Revolution Through Evolution

"Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future."  -John F. Kennedy

"When you’re finished changing, you’re finished." Ben Franklin

 

Maybe it’s the guy you do business with that still doesn’t have a smartphone. Or maybe it’s the team member who is constantly reminding you that “that’s not how we used to do it.” The reality is that change is a big part of most successful businesses. Why? It’s the idea of revolution through evolution, that you rise to the top by being open to evolving what is needed at any given point in time. If you are the guy who won’t connect with customers the way they want to, you will eventually lose business. If you are the one always reminding people abut how things used to be done, you’ll miss out on innovating, changing or uncovering new opportunities for yourself.

I understand that some resistance is just a fact of being human, I do. Every time I change computers or an oft used software program or app gets a complete overhaul, I go through some frustration as I acquaint myself with a new way of doing things. We are human, frustration is going to happen, frustration is okay. What’s not okay is folding your arms in front of you and declaring, “I’m done, this is as far as I go.”

And it’s not just one kind of team member that I see resisting change, it happens on every level. I see business owners cut off entire ways of connecting with their customers or potential customers because they don’t know how they work and refuse to learn. The harsh reality is that being resistant to change eventually puts you at a distinct disadvantage in both business and in life. You don’t have to follow every new development and yes, there are many business practices that have endured for very good reasons and yet, we must stay open to evolving anew.

As a leader, you can stay flexible and change with the times, take advantage of new opportunities in your industry and grow your business. Or you can resist change by letting your discomfort keep you stuck in one place. You can refuse to adapt, but your business will likely quickly become less relevant or worse, it may perish. The best leaders never get entirely comfortable with change but they do get more comfortable being uncomfortable. The best leaders embark on a continual strategy of learning and adapting in order to thrive. If you keep an open mind, change can bring with it significant opportunities, it can ignite growth and transform both people and organizations.