These days I’m doing more and more behavioral assessment work for the current workforce. These are the people who, because of the streamlining of jobs, need to “up their game” and shoulder new areas of responsibility and decision making.
Developing yourself as a leader isn't easy; behavioral change is hard, time-consuming and frustrating. Removing the five most common roadblocks to change can make your path to self improvement better:
- Take ownership. If you don't think you can change, you can't. Believe in your ability to change and take ownership before getting started.
- Be patient. Positive and lasting results take time, usually 50 percent to 100 percent longer than most people initially think.
- Accept difficulties. Real change takes real work. When setting out, be prepared to face challenges you didn't anticipate.
- Refuse to be distracted. Something more important will inevitably come up. You need to make your development a priority and refuse to let distractions divert your path.
- Maintain. Once you've started to see traction, don't declare victory. Sustainable change requires maintenance over a lifetime.
—Plan for distractions in advance. Assume that crazy is the new normal. You will probably be close to the reality that awaits.
My encouragement for those trying to make behavioral changes (and who isn’t?) is don’t give up too soon! Lasting change takes time, patience and perseverance.
(Read the entire article, Don’t Give Up on Change, by author Marshall Goldsmith.)
Comments