So I am sharing a little secret, in my spare time I like to do powerlifting. I haven’t broken any world records (yet) but I do love the sense of being a lady with strength and getting out of my comfort zone to compete. As I was preparing for my third competition, I started to see similarities with powerlifting and change management, but really these can be applied to any aspect of your life where you want to ascend and to achieve goals for yourself or your organisation.
1. Set the plan
I’m a lady with a plan, I love a good list and ticking things off. Just the exercise of writing it down and crossing it off provides a sense of accomplishment and keeps me focussed. I didn’t get to squat my body weight by doing haphazard exercises or securing my promotions over my career, I had a plan and executed it.
2. Be consistent
Rome wasn’t built in a day, neither are muscles and neither was your organisation. Being consistent in your training, approach to the work task or communicating a change ensures that success will occur, in time and consistency does pay off. It isn’t glamorous and can be arduous, but keep the eye on the prize and you will get there.
3. Seek out guidance
Sorry to tell you but you aren’t the smartest person in the room, someone, somewhere has done it before, probably better, and will do it again. Don’t operate in an igloo, its damn cold and no one will visit you an igloo. There are plenty of people who can help you when you ask, it could be a mentor or your manager. In my case, the services of a coach (for technique) and a trusted colleague (who knows the landscape, can ask hard questions, and importantly will call chicken on any excuses of why the change isn’t working).
4. Build your own knowledge base
This one is an addition to seeking out guidance, the internet is a wealth of information (which is why you are reading this right now). Self-directed learning is a great tool which many organisations incorporate into learning and development models, but many employees don’t harness this opportunity. I have watched countless Mark Rippletoe and Alan Thrall videos about lifting exercises and it 100% improved my squat technique when working out at home during iso. If you were to allocate 10% of your week to self-directed learning by reading articles on change management tools or seeking out case studies of organisations were change was successful, it will expand your knowledge base ten-fold. I have a post dedicated to good quality information sources under "Extracurricular Reading".
5. Never underestimate yourself
How did the CEO get to the C-suite?
Through hard work, determination and building oneself.
How did the powerlifter get to deadlift double their body weight?
Through hard work, determination and building oneself.
Thanks for reading, if you are interested in more ways to Think Ascend, subscribe to my mailing list so you never miss content to enhance your brain.