Embracing change in uncertain times.

I joined a terrific webinar yesterday sponsored by Sonoma Learning Systems in California. It featured Steve Coats discussing his book There is No Box. The meat of this book comes from Steve and his co-author Tom Heuer's research on growth. Steve made the point that the when one is challenged, faced with an obstacle, the only route to growth is through change. Therefore, leaders who can embrace change, help clear the way for growth. This way of looking at challenge in relation to growth seemed particularly relevant this week as we watched our economy falter. In hearing the economic pundits discuss the activity of the week you could sense the panic rising. What we all hope for is healthy economic growth, and we have hit some major obstacles. It's time for change to clear the path. But listening to an economist explains why the plunge occurred this week makes the head spin. It is tough for most to relate at that level. Is this all happening beyond our control? Is there anything to be done or do we all just brace for the fall? Another key phrase then comes to mind. Leadership is everyone's business. Moving from challenge to growth requires change. A leaders job is to challenge the process or embrace change and leadership is everyone's business. So, as leaders, we have individual responsibility to think about ways to influence and embrace change that would impact the economy and clear the path for growth. Individual actions may not change the S&P index, but they are part of the whole. So what are the things we can do as individual leaders to embrace economic change? Shopping, as we've been directed to do in the past, seems counterintuitive. Burning less fuel seems obvious. It's time to get creative and remember, there is no box.
Posted by,
Beth High