Change Management: What’s Stopping You?

Mindsets are dangerous. A fixed mindset can bring an entire organization to a grinding halt simply by existing. What makes them even more insidious is the fact that they exist, almost undetectable, in your most trusted management team members. The unconscious acceptance of an established mindset can wreak havoc even when least expected.

What do we mean? Well, take a look at a few of these examples of how mindsets can prevent you from taking the next step:

“We can’t sell it for that price.” This is not an unusual statement – but it is sometimes taken at face value rather than examining the reasons behind its issue. The idea that prices are sometimes inflexible can mean a loss of profit if the reasoning isn’t totally sound. Next time, ask why – and flush out those reasons. Stop letting assumptions direct your growth. Change perspectives.

The ever-present fear of failure (sales rejection, idea rejection, fear of being fired, fear of reduction in management /leadership capacity, etc.). Fear has always been, and will likely always be, a strong motivator – but sometimes that fear is a motivator that leads individuals to ignore change in exchange for retaining stability. Help employees face those fears by promoting failure as a viable option – one that you can learn from instead of one that needs to be avoided.

“It’s not good enough,” or “I’m not good enough.” Heard all too often in the corporate world, this mindset is a constant source of trouble when it comes to change management. Divesting someone of their inability to see the benefits through the challenges can be incredibly difficult – but that is where you come in. Instead of just blindly accepting such beliefs or letting them go unchallenged, mindsets need to support and energize you and your management team. They need to enhance the positive things that you and your team do AND they need to be fun! After all, nothing engages employees better than when they’re having fun.

Have a look around you. Talk to you senior management team. Determine what their blocking mindsets are and help them get rid of those negative ideologies. Stagnancy is a killer in any industry, and those that choose (whether consciously or as a result of an almost invisible mindset) to remain static just become more vulnerable. Change management needs to be a constant consideration – so be wary of how negative mindsets can hinder this.

For more about breaking down the barriers of a problematic mindset please contact Innovators Alliance. Our peer-to-peer sessions can really help you get to the root of the problem. Call 1-905-332-0340 today.