A major telecommunications company was losing several BILLION dollars per QUARTER. They were asked, "When does your leadership team get together to discuss the strategy for changing the direction of the company". The response was "This is the first time in 7 years that the top 250 people of the company have EVER been in the same room to discuss strategy or anything else" Not an approach that creates lasting change!!!!
What are the ingredients of lasting change? First of all, the change has to start with people changing, because people are the source of all problems and all solutions.
1. Awareness: Knowing "reality" allows for the possibility of change. If you don't know you're in a ditch, climbing out doesn't occur for you. Feedback is the primary method to see reality. Surveys, market research, practical experience, interviews. All contribute to knowing the current "truth".
2. Intention: "What do you really want?". This question brings out all the conflicts that may exist - internally or between people. When those conflicts are addressed, then a clear purpose/goal/intention becomes apparent.
3. Action Plan: what are the immediate steps that need to be taken towards the intention? They may include time, resources, money, relationships, study etc.
4. Repetition: The patterns of our thoughts and previous behaviors are extraordinarily powerful. The average person has between 50,000 and 70,000 thoughts per day, and 95% of them are repetitive. To overcome these relentless patterns of behavior takes equally relentless practice and attention. Re-visit your intentions daily. It is recommended that your intention is repeated at least 100 times per day for 90 days before the new grooves in the brain start forming
5. Support: Public acknowledgement of intentions and having people that will hold you accountable creates the external "pressure" to keep on the path.
Finally, all of this is easy to say, but hard to do. Yet, without changing the behaviors of people, nothing happens.
What have you done to create permanent change? Let us know at info@theopenorganization.com
