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#72 Why this enthusiasm to “teach?”

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The world around us is full of problems. Let us narrow the scope to the workplace and state: the workplace is full of problems. Let us narrow the scope even further: you are facing a lot of problems.

It is better to start by solving the smallest problem you can find, then work your way up. If you are handed a ginormous problem, break it down into smaller problems, then start by solving the smallest problem you can find. This will build your confidence as well as the foundation to solve bigger problems. Ergo, don’t worry about the world’s problem, or your co-workers’ problem. Start with your own. Charity begins at home.

You may observe that when faced by large problems, your co-workers are eager to instruct other co-workers how to solve problems, but don’t show the same enthusiasm to take action to solve their own. This appears to be generally true in society as well. Newspapers, magazines, blogs, TV, and other media are full of pundits that have answers for what others should do, but none of the speakers volunteer by saying, “I will do this…”

Stop teaching others, stop teaching yourself. Just get out there and start the “doing.” Walk the talk, and see the difference it makes.

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#69 Where does your “urgency” come from?

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Change management required you to identify the “burning platform” early in the process. Where does this “spark” come from? Within you? Or from the environment?

In real life, you will have a mix of both sources. The only question remains, what is the ratio?

  • If 80% of the urgency is from the environment, you are “reacting.”
  • If 80% of the urgency is from within, you are being “proactive.”

In both cases, you are likely to be very stressed. You can fight fires most of the time, or be so driven that you don’t stop to smell the roses, and hope to remain stress free. High stress and low quality of life go together.

Thus, another metric becomes the number of change efforts in progress at any time. How many plates can you keep spinning at any time? Reduce the quantity, concentrate your energies. Delegate what you can.

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