Webster’s dictionary states the “status quo” is the current situation, the way things are now. You often hear people say, “if it’s not broke, don’t fix it or we’ve always done it this way.” If you are stuck in that mantra, you are not leading but managing.
Start challenging the way things are.
You may be asking yourself, how do I challenge the status quo, how do I change the way things are? Accept that change is necessary and positive. Ask the right questions about yourself and the organization. Leaders are challenging to seek out opportunities to change the status quo. They seek innovation and improvement, they are prepared to experiment to try different things. They take a risk and accept failures.Leaders who challenge the status quo break the mold….
Traits of leaders that challenge the status quo are:
- Willing to stand out - they are a little rebellious
- Curiosity - they have a desire to find better ways of doing things or different ways of using items they are not intended for
- Thick skin - they are able to withstand criticism and setbacks
- Learn from mistakes - they do not mind trying new things to find out what works; if something fails, they reflect, reinvent, and maybe pivot in a different direction
- Inspire vision with passion - get others excited about new possibilities
- Collaborate & build - create an atmosphere of trust
- Recognize contributions - let their team know they appreciate their efforts because they cannot do it along
Why you SHOULD challenge the status quo of leadership
1. Differing perspectives - lends a fresh new point-of-view, ask questions about why something is not working, or how can we make it better
2. Move the business forward
a. Industry trends - government regulations
b. Competitors - what are our competitors doing? Who are the new players? Did the industry
shrink?
c. Customer base preference - untapped markets, product options
3. Mediocre to Great - high performing individual/team to high performing business
Challenging the status quo is the new normal. So how are you challenging the status quo?
Comments