Change or Die. Or Don’t.
This Blog has moved! Click here to see what's new in the life of the Pruett family.
I just read a fascinating article in the May issue of Fast Company that reflected recent findings in the fields of neuroscience and psychology: When faced with making significant, enduring, life-altering behavioral changes in order to prolong or improve the quality of one’s life, 90% of heart surgery (post-bypass) patients could not make the changes required.
Did you catch that? 90 percent.
That means faced with life or death, nine out of ten chose death. Or rather their inability to change implies that they are willing to live (or die) with the consequences.
The article goes on to discuss that fear, even of death, is an insufficient form of motivation. Rather, changes that are introduced as an agent of bringing joy and a better quality of life - in other words changes that will bring a better future - are actually more effective. The changes must be radical, so that immediate results will be seen, and they must continue to bring results as the changes are implemented over the long run.
Sometimes I wonder if I’m any different? Odds are I’m in the majority that is content to live with the consequences rather than live with the discomfort that I perceive will accompany change. Why am I so content to live in mediocrity? I think I want to accomplish more, build deeper friendships, mature in my faith, experience an enriching, fulfilling marriage, thrive in a challenging work environment, and live a full, healthy life in pursuit of excellence. But am I willing to pay the price?
As I consider my work environment and the changes I’ve attempted to push through to others or even changes in general strategy, I’ve seen that the attempts to make slow gradual changes have seen widespread failure. They work for a little while. Then everyone reverts back to their old habits.
However, when I’ve introduced sweeping changes they have actually been more effective. It hasn’t been easy, and it takes a lot of personal effort to succeed. I’ve had to paint a picture of what lies ahead if we make the change - and it has only worked when that picture is far better than the course the organization is on at present. I’ve had to be decisive and very clear in my communication. And I’ve had to be humble enough to admit that I see with limited vision and will own my mistakes as they come.
I can foresee some radical changes coming in my personal life as a result of entering into fatherhood. They’ll be a catalyst for change in many aspects, and as a good friend of mine says, “With change comes opportunity.” I want to be willing to pay the price of pursuing excellence and fleeing mediocrity. I want to be in the 10% that beats the odds. I’m making some decisions to take advantage of this change agent to cull some of the dross that has filtered into my habits and routines. With God’s help and a willingness to keep learning and growing, I’m confident I’ll beat the odds.
May 20th, 2005 at 8:02 pm
It makes me happy to know that even Superman sees kryptonite once in a while.
I think it has to do with the fact that small degrees of change are easier to change back. Kinda like a car wreck. For example if I were to scrape my car. I could just scrape the paint off and it would be relatively back to normal. a minor change. If I were to drive into a Mack Truck at a 140 miles per hour, it would take a lot more to get things back to the way they were. The nature and size of the change just makes it harder to go back to being same ole same ole. It’s possible just harder. Of course it also takes more of a committment to go into a Mack truck at 140 than it does to side swipe another car.
May 22nd, 2005 at 8:25 pm
Hey Jeff. It’s great reading into your thoughts of leadership and dealing with changes.
I remember all the obstacles we had to face in our senior project, concurrent editor. There were many difficulties but you pulled us through.