This is the way it has always been done…. This is the way this industry is.
Every day many of us are confronted with such statements and face a challenge to adapt to fixed postures and previous ideas, situations where proposing changes can be considered an act of rebellion. The result: good ideas are lost!
According to Merriam-Webster, the term “mindset,” first used in 1909, refers to a “mental attitude” and a “fixed state of mind.” It is a favourite word when it comes to transformation initiatives in organizations. We are often encouraged to get the right mindset, even though we don’t know exactly what this means or how to develop it.
Is mindset a part of the personality? Can it be acquired? Is it related to our environment?
As leaders and collaborators, we process information and use it to interpret different situations to create the appropriate responses. Thus, people with different mentalities, when faced with the same situation, respond in very different ways. One leader might feel that a challenge is an opportunity to learn, while others might see it as a threat to their authority.
So, how do we change something that needs to be fixed? The answer: endless learning. The competencies of a leader – knowledge, skills and attitude must be constantly developed – not part of a single learning moment or experience.
Changes in the internal and external environment generally require an effort to transform what existed into something better. This helps us grow as individuals and as organizations. It does not mean abandoning what we were or did and starting from scratch, rather it is about learning and understanding the new context, rescuing what we want to maintain, and identifying what we need to transform.
If the mindset of a leader is not in the right place, the organization will not achieve meaningful results, even if it has the latest administrative tools or cutting-edge technology to develop its core business.
We believe that there is a need for leaders to be open to learn new skills and behaviours in order to establish a mindset that helps them lead people with optimism, trust, and collaboration. This is fundamental to necessary changes that lift the organization to its next level.
Ask yourself:
- Do you feel you are connected to your team members?
- Do you and your team members understand and share the same values; thinking, feeling, and acting in alignment?
- What have you learned from your collaborators that helps you to cooperate better with them?
- Are you ready to take your organization to its next level?