Forced Change

“How many of you drove a different route to the office today for no reason? Just because you could?”

• Steve Heston when beginning The Heston Group’s Purposeful Change session

In 35 years, maybe ten hands have gone up in reply to that question. I was the first to arrive at the office for many years, no matter where I worked. One co-worker actually apologized for parking “in my spot” when he’d left his car there overnight. I hadn’t noticed.

Why is this topic bubbling to the top this week? Here in central Iowa, we’re facing historic cold temperatures, and the kitchen pipes in the new Dad Pad have been frozen since Sunday. It’s amazing to me how much I’ve had to think instead of just do. The coffee pot has to be filled in the bathtub (it won’t fit under the bathroom sink faucet). Instead of washing my cast iron skillet in the bathtub, I did a three-day fast.

As leaders, it’s important to remember that our teams resist or avoid change even when they’ve got no reason. And they’re usually uncomfortable with it when they have a reason.

So, we help them navigate. We signal early and often. We create an environment where they’re encouraged to try new things, new ways, new ideas.

Ideas are the currency of Difference Makers. And ideas often lead change or are prompted by forced change.

I really want a steak, and it looks like Saturday night I should have water so I can break out the cast iron skillet again. In the meantime, I’m down six pounds, I’m getting work done, and I’m drinking less coffee, which may be why I’m sleeping better.

All because the kitchen pipes in the new Dad Pad are frozen. A “forced change” that helps me realize that it ain’t that big of a deal.

^{Editors Note: I dare you to drive a different route to work tomorrow and tell me what you notice that you wouldn’t otherwise have seen.}