Confronting the Status Quo, What Is It Worth?
Some work doesn’t come with a price tag, it is priceless. The hardest work for organizations is often confronting the status quo. It is the ground where experience and knowledge meet and advise that any change is a counterproductive threat to the work accomplished so far.
What’s it Worth
Think of the business ventures that failed to change, or changed too late. There are some good ones. Kodak and Blockbuster are two.
Many people believe that their workday energy is best spent fighting to keep the status quo. They need to use their energy wisely. Otherwise, someone may change something. That seems like a waste.
Imagine the onlookers at Kodak, watching digital imagining bit-by-bit, byte-by-byte, weakening their traditional film business. The very energy spent to protect the status quo was actually energy spent on their own demise.
All of that energy spent fighting to keep things the same. What is that worth?
Energy Spending
Imagine instead if all of the energy spent on protection was spent on real work. What if it was spent navigating the hurdles, the obstacles, and confronting the status quo. What would that look like?
Think for a moment, what if all of the resources were instead spent on observing what is challenging the customer and then making it easier, better and faster to do business. Instead of cheaper, with less overhead and reduced touch points.
What if the customer was considered the best investment? What if it started internally and spread virally externally?
Is it possible to reduce the friction of the customer journey? Can the organization shorten lead times, ship sooner, and stand by the product, will they?
What if internal teams actually started working together and stopped pointing fingers, and casting blame across departments?
Status Quo
What hard work would you rather do?
Confronting the status quo is hard, but for those who put in the effort and carry it through to produce lasting change that saves businesses, it is priceless.
All of that other hard work. It isn’t worth a dime.
– DEG
Dennis E. Gilbert is a business consultant, speaker (CSPTM), and corporate trainer that specializes in helping businesses and individuals accelerate their leadership, their team, and their success. He is a five-time author and some of his work includes, #CustServ The Customer Service Culture, and Forgotten Respect, Navigating A Multigenerational Workforce. Reach him through his website at Dennis-Gilbert.com or by calling +1 646.546.5553.
