Another year that has brought many unforeseen events to our world and lives is almost past. Looking forward and trying to prepare for an unknown future is really one giant contingency plan. Not one of us can accurately predict what our world will be like in just five years, let alone twenty five or fifty years. For instance, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology freshmen are studying a curriculum that (according to their own university professors) will be obsolete by the time they graduate. So, preparing is a matter of knowing when to stay the course and when to adapt and change. Staying the course is usually the easy part if it is appropriate but changing and adapting is the biggest challenge. Unfortunately, knowing when and how to change and adapt isn’t just a certification you can gain from taking the right college course, it is more about attitude than anything else.
Many once proud companies lay in the ashes of history because of a failure to adapt fast enough to industry changes or economic disruption. (Think Kodak, Block buster video, Pan Am Airlines, Enron etc.) The first clue to finding the cancer that eats away at the success of an organization comes from the attitude of the company. The probability of the long term success of a company can be determined by whether an attitude of pride or humility pervades the culture. There is an ancient proverb that says “pride comes before a fall” and there is an inflexible arrogance that comes from pride whereas humility fosters flexibility and learning and openness to change. Unfortunately, attitudes can change with success and often pride plants the seeds of decay and when they take root people spend more time trying to take credit for the success of the company than trying to learn and be open to what new challenges need to be met and what changes need to be made. Humility, on the other hand is beautiful and always in style on a people and companies, it’s approachable, easy to work with, quick to admit wrong and be willing to change and gives credit rather than taking it. One of the most important ingredients in adaptable and innovative companies is an attitude of humility!
By: Kevin Minne
InnovationGrowthSystems.com
720-354-0291
Many once proud companies lay in the ashes of history because of a failure to adapt fast enough to industry changes or economic disruption. (Think Kodak, Block buster video, Pan Am Airlines, Enron etc.) The first clue to finding the cancer that eats away at the success of an organization comes from the attitude of the company. The probability of the long term success of a company can be determined by whether an attitude of pride or humility pervades the culture. There is an ancient proverb that says “pride comes before a fall” and there is an inflexible arrogance that comes from pride whereas humility fosters flexibility and learning and openness to change. Unfortunately, attitudes can change with success and often pride plants the seeds of decay and when they take root people spend more time trying to take credit for the success of the company than trying to learn and be open to what new challenges need to be met and what changes need to be made. Humility, on the other hand is beautiful and always in style on a people and companies, it’s approachable, easy to work with, quick to admit wrong and be willing to change and gives credit rather than taking it. One of the most important ingredients in adaptable and innovative companies is an attitude of humility!
By: Kevin Minne
InnovationGrowthSystems.com
720-354-0291
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