The seven worst words to utter in business: this is how we've always done it...blah, blah, blah.
There are a number of plausible explanations for saying them.- "It" worked in the past. There is a record of success by doing "it" this way.
- People don't respond well to change. This is how the clients and the bosses like "it."
- There aren't enough resources to come up with or implement new ways for doing "it."
- There is a lack of enthusiasm, energy and moral for doing "it" in the first place.
Those excuses may have sufficed at one time, but not anymore. Organizations and stakeholders are looking for, and have come to expect, innovative thinking, out-of-the-box ideas and no-holds-barred solutions. Doing "it" as you always have just won't work anymore. As the saying goes, nothing ventured, nothing gained…now is the time to take a risk and push “it” to the next level.
- Get motivated. This is an opportunity for you to learn something new, do something different and make a difference in your organization.
- Build a team. Take this occasion to work with different people in the organization; new people bring new energy, new perspectives and new ideas.
- Pace yourself. Use this moment to make one or two distinctive incremental changes, instead of rebuilding “it” from the ground up.
- Seek counsel. The people who’ve done “it” for the last several years have the wisdom of experience and lessons learned; they are your allies.
- Keep smiling. “It” has been done the same way for seemingly eons, some people may not understand, be comfortable or want “it” to change. Remember, in the end, adjusting “it” is for the betterment of the entire organization.
Take "it" on with gusto and make it yours!
