We are all always in the process of some level of reinvention, whether it is natural, forced, or chosen.
I have read and observed that leadership cycles typically run in 5–7-year cycles. A standard bell curve accompanies these cycles, with effectiveness peaking at approximately the midpoint and then gradually declining. The typical leader has 2 or 3 cycles in him/her at best. Very few make it beyond this point. There are certainly leaders who opt to stay in their positions longer (especially small business owners). Still, if they are honest with themselves, they will admit that the organization has become somewhat stale and is lacking the energy and direction it once had. The numbers may not align precisely with this trajectory, but the foundation upon which they are built will begin to show cracks and become less stable.
My belief is that everyone’s life follows a similar pattern. You must be careful about not becoming too comfortable with the status quo and losing your energy and edge. Reinvention isn’t always easy, especially if there is no “burning platform” forcing you to change. You need to reach inside yourself and seek out new challenges. You need to engage in necessary and sometimes uncomfortable self-reflection. You need to keep learning and embracing new ideas rather than relying on what you already know and/or understand.
The only constant in the world is change. How much different is your life than it was ten years ago? Just think about everything that has taken place in our country and the world since 2004, and it becomes clear. Unemployment was almost half of what it is today. Social media wasn’t even a topic of discussion in most business conversations. A group of Harvard students were just launching Facebook. Hardly anyone you knew owned an iPod. The iPhone was still three years away from launching. The housing market was booming with homeownership at an all-time high. Barack Obama was just elected to the Senate for the state of Illinois and had limited national exposure. How different do you think the next ten years will be?
Leaders don’t just need to adapt to the future; they must also create it. They must position themselves and their companies in the most advantageous position possible. Resting on your laurels is never a good strategy. The thinking and tools required to solve yesterday’s problems will likely not be sufficient to address the challenges of the future. Many companies that were widely perceived as great businesses with a rich history a decade ago don’t even exist today. Without well-informed, forward-thinking, adaptable, and courageous leadership, most organizations are adrift in a sea of mediocrity, vulnerable to the waves of chaos and uncertainty.
Leadership and life are about reinvention. Who you are today will not be who you become tomorrow. There are too many variables beyond your realm of control. I hope that life is kind to you and that you won’t be given more to manage than you can handle. However, life also rewards those who are prepared. The market continues to value and reward those organizations that take calculated risks and proactively strive to create a successful future. People who live the most fulfilling lives are those willing to make changes and challenge conventional wisdom. If you stand still, others will pass you by, and life will eventually run you over.
Related articles
- Five disasters all leaders should face (theglobeandmail.com)
- Adaptability- A Must (ascendbusinessstrategies.wordpress.com)
- How To Reinvent (businessinsider.com)
- The Five Rules Of Business Reinvention: What You Can Learn From Burberry? (mootee.typepad.com)