Prevent Fear From Disrupting Your Success

People want approval, control and security. Of the three, control probably was the first out the window as the coronavirus pandemic took hold. In response, some leaders tried to tighten their grasp on things they could control, clutching at the threads of pre-pandemic normalcy. Sometimes this stifled creative responses. Other times, it manifests in embracing denial. In both those cases, the results led to disappointment.

   Embracing change can feel like stepping into the unknown, which may raise anxiety and resistance to change—leaders who fear a step beyond the way they’re used to operating. Embracing change can also be the way to successfully navigate disruptive forces.

   If “repeating the same mistakes and expecting different results is the definition of insanity,” there should be a corollary: “Repeating once-successful operations after they stop being successful is the time for innovation.” Otherwise, this becomes our pattern.

   Leaders can’t allow themselves to get trapped in a story of past success—“this was always successful, so it’s what we’re going to do.” Sometimes stories end. When they do, it’s time to start a new one.

   That’s the story of Attend Safe: Changing to meet the needs of our partners, adapting to changing guidance and being flexible enough to meet new challenges on a daily basis. Our technology partners at Sparrow.ai allow us to react to clients’ customization needs practically (and sometimes literally) overnight (sometimes even within minutes).

   When leaders do embrace change, it’s necessary to ensure that the whole team is ready for the new chapter. To overcome resistance to change, leaders need to inspire the team and help their teammates to embrace the coming changes. This is more than buzzwords about “bleeding edges” or “paradigm pivots,” it’s about assuring the team that there’s a plan, that the plan is flexible and welcomes input from team members, that the plan meets the mission of the organization, and that the leader understands that it may create anxiety, and that it’s OK to feel that way, when embarking on a new journey.

   A leader must relate to the team, engage the team’s curiosity and areas of genius, and address the future with due thoughtfulness and candor. Accomplish that and the organization will be writing a new tale of success in challenging times.