Select Page

Staying Power

January 3, 2021
Leadership Advisory

“Change is the narrowest and hardest groove that a man can get into.” G. K. Chesterton

The operations manager lamented that his company had been hot and cold on implementing lean manufacturing for the past ten years.  He was coming to the realization that as his energy level and commitment to the process ebbed and flowed, so did that of his managers.

Change is not a sprint; in fact, it’s a marathon requiring inexhaustible energy and staying power from those who lead it. And, for the people who prefer a less hurried and more monotonous work pace, you are wise to count the cost before committing to that groove.

And then, there are those restless souls who get bored quickly and have to keep changing things.  During a recent coaching session I pointed out to the Managing Director his high work pace and need for variety and change.  He replied, “So, you won’t be surprised to learn that I’m on my third marriage.”  We laughed; and yet, there is a certain sorrow and exhaustion in that groove.

Fight change, and it will break you.  Ignore change, and you become irrelevant. Worship change, and you become its slave. Respect change, and you will discover the richness of the past and the promise of a future.  Staying power!

Being In Control…

...demands self-control The meeting ran late, the taxi took twice the time estimated to arrive leaving 15 minutes to clear security and board my flight.  To my good fortune, there is no line and the security agent is waiting.  This was going to work and hope of making...

Desperation Diminishes

"Desperation is like stealing from the Mafia: you stand a good chance of attracting the wrong attention." Douglas Horton Many capable professionals disqualify themselves from positions of leadership because they appear desperate.  One of my mentors explained that...

Realistic or just stuck?

Pragmatism is basically considered a virtue in the world of accounting, finance and consulting. But there is a risk of being too realistic and over-relying on how you've always done things. My son, who works for a financial firm, shared his recent experience.  A group...