I’ve led an interesting life to date, mostly due to the extent/ degree to which I’ve influenced/ caused organisations to look at (and question) themselves objectively, to only then determine where improvements could be made to the way they operate. As you may imagine, more often than not, this “push against the flow” has been met with a good amount of resistance most of the time.

Why do I persevere with this pursuit of challenging the status quo/ pushing boundaries ? Simple. If people like me choose not to practice this pursuit, even more organisations than currently (and historically) will go down the slippery slope of no return. Why ? Because they would have refused to challenge their ways in order to change…adapt…evolve.

If you have people around you who only ever tell you how good you are – or how good your organisation is, what sort of mindset do you think you’re likely to have ? Yip, that’s right, one of “everything that I do is the best that can possibly be done”. If you understand this cause and effect relationship, then you’re on the right route to also understand why the business failure rate in New Zealand is as high as it is. Just to remind you:

Changing the SME Business Model

Comparison Kiwi Business Failure Rate to Other Countries

 

I have found that the main reasons why most people don’t like to have the status quo challenged are:

  • Ego/ pride – particularly if the challenge is in relation to a system/ structure/ framework, etc that an individual (who is not used to having their perspective challenged) has developed.
  • The outcome of the challenge may lead to one or more change occurring – and in my experience most people don’t like (and resist) change.
  • More effort/ energy/ applied thought may be necessary as a result of one or more change coming about.

 

My best advice to leaders around the world at all levels is actively seek and engage people who are in fact willing to challenge the status quo. And once on-board allow them breathing space to determine where and how improvements can be made to the functioning of your organisation/ business/ country. It is increasingly becoming rare to find these people – versus the vast majority who are just fine with “going with the flow”. The world needs both types of people; yet if you want to bring about change for the better it will be those people who are prepared to provide their honest insight into what isn’t working well in an organisation (and thereby challenge the status quo) who will be responsible for such transformations.  

And please…please…please I implore you to see these people as “game changers”…as “positive disruptors”. They are not, and should not be seen as, antagonists. These people have the skill to see opportunity that most of the world is not capable of seeing. Get behind them and support their vision – they are capable of opening tremendous doors of opportunity, to benefit many people.

Remember, EVERY person on earth has both strengths and weaknesses. If the world as a whole is to evolve in a positive way then it is vital that the strengths of each person are permitted (encouraged) to come to the fore and be put to good/ constructive use. If this doesn’t happen, the evolution of mankind overall is going to take that much longer going forward.