Tag Risk Taking

Change is Not Optional

Steve Keating 5 Comments

Most people (how’s that for a wide generalization) don’t like change. Actually, they are okay with change so long as the change doesn’t affect them personally. The worst change of course is the kind that impacts some long held belief or tradition. 

But today, in a world where “traditions” are increasingly tossed aside, where organizations are told that they must innovate or face extinction, change is not optional. The very next innovation could be the one that extends the life of your organization or sends it to the ash heap of the formerly successful innovators. 

But here’s the problem; organizations can’t innovate, only people can.

I was once asked how to teach people to be innovative. My answer was almost instinctive, I said you don’t teach people to innovate, you hire innovative people. Upon further reflection I’d answer that you hire people who care about making a difference and people who want to “leave something behind” for their organization. You then place them in an innovative environment.

Innovation is a people driven process and what makes it so challenging is that people are emotional. They constantly, if even subconsciously, balance risk with reward. 

Even though the desire to innovate may be high the need for safety and security is higher. It’s the fear of losing that security that prevents innovative people from innovating.

That’s why organizations that want to be around in 25 years require especially strong leadership. Not just strong leadership “at the top,” but strong leadership at every level of the organization. 

Those strong leaders must provide an environment where failure is not just tolerated but celebrated as a step forward and and a learning opportunity. Those leaders must provide an environment where well considered risk is not just allowed but encouraged, maybe even demanded.

Much of the technology used in business today was unimaginable by most people just 10 or 15 years ago. The speed at which technology is changing and improving is increasing literally every day. It is truly unimaginable what that technology will look like in a mere 5 years. 

This much we do know: if you’re a leader and you’re not providing your people an environment where taking thoughtful risk is encouraged and occasional failure is risk free then your people will fight the change needed to succeed tomorrow.

If you’re a leader who wants continued success then take charge of change before change takes charge of you.

 

Did Curiosity Kill the Cat?

Steve Keating 4 Comments

As the saying goes… curiosity killed the cat. I don’t actually think that’s true. The cat might be dead but I’d say it was more likely bad planning than curiosity that did the kitty in.

I’d say that because one of the most common characteristics of successful people is curiosity. Their need to know how something works, their need to understand why it works that way, and their need to know if there is a better way for it to work pushes them to try new things. 

Successful people are seldom willing to merely accept the status quo. 

They take risks. Not wild risks but well thought out, well measured and well considered risks. Their curiosity, or need to know, drives them to expose the “as is” to the possibilities of the “could be.” They know that without a doubt good enough never really is good enough. 

Successful people develop a plan that allows them to minimize the downside of risk taking. They understand the potential for failure and they are willing to accept that risk. What they won’t accept is the failure that comes from not trying, or the failure that comes from a lack of curiosity. 

Successful people know that never taking a risk is the riskiest move they can make. 

When you ask a truly successful person “why do you do it that way?” you will never hear, “because we have always done it that way.”  They know exactly why they do what they do and why something is done a certain way because their curiosity has motivated them to learn.

I’d bet a bunch a money that if curiosity really did kill the cat that the cat thought learning something new was worth the risk and hey, at least the cat died knowing. šŸ˜Š

So what about you? Are you the type of cat that needs to know? Will you allow curiosity to fuel your success? 

I, and you, need to know….

 

How Leaders Think

Steve Keating 7 Comments

First a couple of qualifiers: not all leaders think the same and not all leaders are always thinking about the things discussed in this post. But generally speaking, all successful leaders think in these terms and while they have many other thoughts, at one time or another these things are top of mind. So here we go….

Great leaders focus on the mission. Leaders are frequently pulled toward unusual and urgent events that force them in different directions. While these often require the attention of the leader they don’t lose sight of the higher intent of the organization. When the challenge has been dealt with they return their focus to the mission and purpose of the organization. They know where they need to go and they have an actionable plan to get there. They think mission first!

Great leaders are great coaches. They actively look for opportunities to coach their people with the goal of growing more leaders. They coach for corrective action and they coach for positive reinforcement. They delegate to grow their people knowing full well that mistakes might be made. Great leaders also know that those mistakes provide highly valued learning opportunities. Great leaders think coaching, coaching, coaching. 

Great leaders are great examples. They know that people will do what they see their leaders doing. They know that they are the example of successful behavior for their people. They understand that they set the example of good character, knowing their job and doing what matters. They preform as they would have their people perform and they do not expect more from their people then they expect of themselves. Great leaders know the way, go the way and lead the way. Great leaders think in terms of setting an example as much or more than they think of anything else.

Great leaders value and leverage diversity. They know that true diversity goes beyond Equal Employment and Affirmative Action laws. True diversity is understanding, valuing, and leveraging the differences in every person. They seek out differing opinions from people with different backgrounds and demonstrate that people are valued for their uniqueness. Great leaders know that to continue their personal growth they must interact with people who have opinions different from their own and who feel empowered to express them. Great leaders think about broadening the diversity of their organizations. 

Great leaders accept risk. They accept well considered, well calculated risks. They don’t act with reckless abandon, they gather facts, they measure, they ask for advice and then they decide. They decide. They decide, that means that they make a decision. Great leaders know that all the facts, all the advice and all the opinions in the world don’t amount to much if a decision is never made. They think risk and they think about when and why to take them.

The simple truth is that leaders think differently than followers. Leaders see a bigger picture and they see farther into the future. Leadership is as much about mindset as it is anything, if you want to lead then start thinking (and acting) like a leader. 

It Isnā€™t Safe to Play it Safe

Steve Keating 4 Comments

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Iā€™m a big fan of playing it safe. I guess itā€™s my conservative nature. I grew up in a ā€œif it ainā€™t broke donā€™t fix itā€ environment and I can still make a strong case for that strategy today.

The problem is, itā€™s a very bad strategy for the world we do business in today. The ā€œletā€™s play it safeā€ people are getting hammered more and more everyday. There is not a business around today that can afford to ā€œleave well enough alone.ā€

The only way to be safe today is to take a risk! Iā€™m not talking crazy, thoughtless risk; Iā€™m talking about thoughtful, considered risk. Doing the same thing next year that you did last year will NOT get you the same results. The people that thrive in the coming years will be the first who realize that just because something was the right thing to do yesterday doesnā€™t mean itā€™s still the right thing to do today.

Such a person is one Randy Gage. If you follow me on Twitter you have probably seen me tweet a bunch about Randyā€™s latest book, Risky is the New Safe. I posted those tweets for the same reason Iā€™ve committed a blog post to this subject. I believe Randyā€™s book can help many people. There is absolutely nothing else in it for me. Iā€™m promoting Risky is the New Safe because I believe it ā€œfitsā€ with my online mission of helping others.

Iā€™ve never met Randy ā€œin personā€ but hereā€™s what I can tell you about him. This guy gets it! In his book Randy provides a kind of road map to success, and not just the success of today but the success of a great many tomorrows.

Hereā€™s what I like most about Risky is the New Safe, when you read it youā€™re no longer alone in your risk taking. Itā€™s almost like there is someone there with you, a coach if you will, offering support, guidance and lessonā€™s from his own life experiences. Itā€™s written from the depth and perspective of someone who has vision and is willing to share it with others.

No matter what you do and no matter how you do it, itā€™s highly unlikely that you can maintain your success by just continuing to do it indefinitely. The world is changing everyday and everyday it changes a little faster than the day before. There is no more ā€œsafe;” you either accept the challenge of risk or you accept your fate. The choice is yours.

I truly believe that Risky is the New Safe will help you make better choices and decisions about your future. You might find it to be just the push you need to get out of your ā€œsupposedly safeā€ bubble and into a life filled with pleasure and success.

Lest I forget, you can also catch Randy’s wisdom on Twitter – follow him @Randy_Gage

I hope your very next choice is to read this great, potentially life changing book!