Habit forming. We all know that phrase. But, did you know that for adults to acquire a new habit, it has to be a conscious activity for 21 days? Then, on the 22nd day, it becomes habit. If you are like me, I go through my day doing so many things unconsciously; I have to consciously check that I got them done. With all of these unconscious activities, there is little room for new ones. That’s why the gazillion New Year’s resolutions that we plan on doing often fall by the wayside within a month.
Try this:Try one new habit at a time. If you take the 52 weeks in a year and divide by 3 weeks (21 day period) you find that you can develop 17 new habits each year. Think about it – that’s a LOT.
My first resolution is to get my emails under control. I have started to schedule when I check my email inbox – 4 times a day. Wouldn’t life be grand with email under control? It’s vital to communications, but it can be a big time-drain. So, it’s my top SMART business priority.
If you are trying to steer a new course, be sure your seasoned veterans and new recruits are on board!
It Takes Many Hands to Move a Ship
Maybe you have heard from, or commiserated with, other owners and managers who have been trying to “turn the ship” and feel that it is a solitary endeavor. Steering a new course is always challenging, but if you agree with the premise that it is easier to steer a ship when all hands set the rigging toward your intended heading, then it makes sense to bring your “crew” up to speed with your plans and not to consider them as adversaries. If you see yourself as solely responsible for bringing about change, your employees will probably wonder where, if at all, they fit into your plans. When they know “something”—but not “what”—is going on, they may fear that any action might hinder rather than assist your change, or they may take incorrect action. This can take the “wind out of their sails” and cause them to step back and avoid any actions that you may potentially welcome.
Keep an Open Mind
If you are coming into a new situation, keep an open mind about an individual employee’s performance. Most people perform differently under various circumstances. Evaluate any information given to you by previous management in light of your own observations. Communicate and interact with employees to learn more about their strengths and weaknesses and how they interact and work with others. You may be able to inspire a disgruntled or underutilized employee to step up and meet new challenges. Going into a new endeavor with a “clean house” approach usually becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy and can cripple your business, leaving it short on valuable experience. Better to go with a “clean slate” approach.
Address Employee Fears
Employee resistance to change is largely based on fear of change. If your employees appear to be resisting change, ask questions to find out why. They may fear that the company will not survive a change or that they will lose their job. Change may bring specific challenges to them that they feel ill-equipped to meet. Communicate your reasons for bringing change to the company and the negative consequences of not taking action. Listen to and acknowledge your employees’ thoughts. Try to minimize the hardships of change for employees. If job responsibilities are changed, offer an opportunity for training. If an employee wants to take this opportunity to try something different, see if this can fit with, or even facilitate, your plans. If you need to cut staff in some areas, retained staff will judge how you handle it. You might shuffle staff in different groups; give ample notice; or provide outplacement assistance, severance, or re-training.
Could this be a period of disruptive innovation by small business owners?
I marvel at the talent, innovation and speed of the entrepreneur. After spending many years in corporate America, I find the entrepreneur refreshing and challenging. Always keeping me on my toes! But, it’s that innovation and do it now movement that is setting the pace for this economic recovery. The entrepreneur doesn’t have time to lick wounds or trim fat – they run lean operations and are always on the lookout. And, they are willing to take risk and move quickly.
Call it: Disruptive Innovation.
Disruptive innovation is an innovation that improves products or services in unexpected ways, affecting existing markets. These innovative products and services are often offered at a lower price than similar existing products and services or to a different set of consumers. Tough economic times often bring out the best from small business professionals and can foster a period of creativity. That’s why Professor Clayton Christensen at Harvard Business School feels like this economy will have a positive effect on innovation. Small business owners have the ability to change quickly and shake things up. They can also benefit by partnering with larger businesses that may be too big or cumbersome to change quickly and may be in need of a swift change-up in technology, services, and products that small businesses can provide.
Small business employs upwards of 50% of Americans. Disruptive Innovation has my support – When SMARTBusiness Matters.
I have a pretty large desk, and I keep two calendars—one at either end to accommodate whichever way I happen to be facing. I’m a writer so, naturally, one of those calendars is about books. The other gives a quote a day. This one stopped me in my tracks:
How would you like a job where if you made a mistake, a big red light goes on and 18,000 people boo?
- Jacques Plante, hockey goalie
I’m about as far as you can get from a sports fan, but I sympathize. I know what it’s like to feel like you’re in a fishbowl, on display with everyone watching to see what move you’ll make next. The fear of making a mistake—let alone a high-profile mistake—can be paralyzing. What do you do? Do you stay small and play it safe, or do you embrace the challenge and play it big?
In these uncertain times, employees are carrying a heavy mantle as they’re asked to shoulder the work of laid-off colleagues. Don’t let it stop you from doing what you need to do. No matter what company I work for or what I’m doing, I always manage to put myself out there. If I believe in my work, I’m passionate about it. Consequently, I’m willing to take chances. The risk for failure is great, but the rewards are even greater.
Naturally, I’ve stumbled, but I’ve owned it each time. And most importantly, I’ve learned from it. Thankfully, I haven’t had an arena full of people jeering at me, but even if I did, I wouldn’t let it stop me. Believe in what you do, show up fully, and do your best—the rest will work itself out.
Call it: Disruptive Innovation.