Blessed Are The Flexible

"You cannot be the same, think the same, and act the same if you hope to be successful in a world that does not remain the same.” 

--Malcolm Gladwell

I facilitated a networking group by Zoom this morning for the first time since April. In April, the lockdown had just begun and emotions were running high. Meeting on Zoom then did not excite this group of vivacious, energetic business professionals. We had two  or three meetings by Zoom anyway, which were less than uplifting, and decided to meet again when everything opened up. Ha! Who knew it would be forever before we opened again? 

This morning  was different! This morning's meeting was so much fun! The speaker was motivating and everyone seemed thrilled to be there.  

What changed? The words that came to mind were adaptable and flexible. Adaptable indicates long-term change and flexibility is being able to bend or flex to more short term changes. What wasn't normal, meeting everyone by Zoom, became our regular way of doing things and we had adapted.

As I thought about this, John Maxwell's book, "Leadershift," came to mind. If we want to be successful as leaders, we need to learn to embrace uncertainty and make shifts continually. That's so true, isn't it? Our world is changing at such a rapid pace, we need to be flexible.

How to make these shifts?  Here a few steps from John's book: 

1. Continually learn, unlearn and relearn. If we always do what we've always done, we'll always get what we've always gotten. We need to be willing to let go of what worked yesterday and grasp new ways of seeing and doing things.

2. Yesterday ended last night. We need to focus on today. What we did in the past may have been fantastic but it probably won't help us win today. 

3. Keep growing. There's no finish line when it comes to improving. As long as we are enlarging ourselves, our influence increases and so does our impact. 

4. Move forward bravely in uncertainty.  "Life expands or shrinks in proportion to our courage."  John covers this step with that quote perfectly.

As I reflected on the difference in my friends (and me) from April until now, and look at the uncertainty of the future, I realized I better get more comfy with change. Not only that, I better attempt to anticipate what might come, so I can be ready. Hmmm...how about looking at life as an adventure to be lived full out and flexibly?  Even Helen Keller said, "Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing at all."  Now, that's a flexible perspective.

Gracefully bending,

Jan

Jan McDonald
Maxwell Team