status quo Archives - Dennis E. Gilbert

23
Sep 21
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Status Quo Defense, Is That Your Position?

Tags : change pivot status quo strategy

Have you ever witnessed a status quo defense? Have you been a person who delivered one?

Change is happening all around you, even though the first thought is often a defensive posture.

That will never work.

We can’t do that because we don’t have the resources.

It is too expensive, we can’t pass the cost along. It will weaken our margin.

The status quo defense is common. Is it always appropriate?

Status Quo Defense

What changes are you attempting to protect against?

Is it technology?

A face-to-face is always better than a Zoom.

The newspaper, in print, is better and easier to read when compared with an online app.

Going to the movie theatre is much better than catching a movie on a digital stream.

Is change really about the risk of going backwards or is it more about the feeling of risk attached to the unknown?

All change involves emotion. There is often a gut feel, a weighing of risk, and the insecurity of the unknown.

A list of pros and cons might be helpful, but suddenly emotion and framing start to tarnish the attempt at honesty and facts.

Business meetings and strategy sessions often attempt to unveil something new. Something new means change and change often sparks a status quo defense.

You decide on what is most helpful, but quick and thoughtless reactions might leave you stuck or falling behind.

Debates create winners and losers. The other side of the coin is that without debate there may be complacency.

You’ll likely take a position.

Remaining neutral is a status quo defense.

-DEG

Dennis E. Gilbert is a business consultant, speaker (CSP^TM), and culture expert. He is a five-time author and the founder of Appreciative Strategies, LLC. His business focuses on positive human performance improvement solutions through Appreciative Strategies®. Reach him through his website at Dennis-Gilbert.com or by calling +1 646.546.5553.

01
Sep 20
-

New Workforce Normal Is For Now Only

Tags : innovation new normal now workforce status quo technology

Is there a new workforce normal? If yes, what does it look like?

If you haven’t seen any change, you’re still not accepting reality in 2020.

How is our current normal affecting the workplace and the workforce?

Welcome the New Fleet

There is an entirely new fleet of WFH (work from home) employees, and they aren’t going back to the traditional office any time soon. Never is a strong word, but it may be true for some operations.

Some aspects of the conventional workplace will continue. Manufacturing sectors, healthcare sectors, and retail, distribution, and many of the service sectors.

What will happen for the new office space? Will it be bigger with more people spread out, or simply smaller with large chunks of the workforce working from home?

There is no doubt that what is happening now depends largely on the nature of the work to be performed. Conditioned of course by the fear of the Coronavirus pandemic.

It’s change.

Navigating Change

Large scale and rapid change really isn’t anything new. It’s just that we often engage by choice instead of by force. There has been a lot of change in the past two centuries and many suggest that the pace of change is much faster. Perhaps that is true.

What’s next and what does the new normal look like?

The new normal looks like any other new normal. It’s change.

Change brings about uncertainty, uncertainty means fear.

Change happens and people transition.

There are some common themes to the stages of transition. It may start with shock, denial, and maybe some anger. In the middle of a change event people are often confused, stressed, and skeptical. As the transition moves on, acceptance begins and new expectations develop.

There is a new status quo.

New Workforce Normal

Change is constant and, in most cases, the new status quo only lasts for a short while.

Everyone operates in the now.

Before automobiles, the horse and buggy travel was the now. Before personal computers, typewriters were the now. We can cite lots of technological changes. Radio, television, cellular, satellite, and digital everything just to name a few.

What is the new workforce normal?

It is the now.

Look around you to see what’s happening.

Are some or nearly all employee teams working from home? You can expect that to continue for now.

Are members of the workforce social distancing and wearing masks some or most of the time? Expect it to continue for now?

Are services you provide or receive experiencing more and more technology driven accommodations? Expect it to continue.

The new workforce normal is what is happening right now.

Seize the moment.

-DEG

Dennis E. Gilbert is a business consultant, speaker (CSP^TM), and culture expert. He is a five-time author and the founder of Appreciative Strategies, LLC. His business focuses on positive human performance improvement solutions through Appreciative Strategies®. Reach him through his website at Dennis-Gilbert.com or by calling +1 646.546.5553.

07
Jan 20
-

What Will Be The Counter Shift?

Tags : change pivot shift status quo

People everywhere often dream of, and some create, a shift. Is there a counter shift for every shift?

In January 2014, I released my book, Pivot and Accelerate. It continues to sell because many of my clients are searching for additional thoughts as they pursue personal or professional change.

One aspect of change that we often fail to see, understand, or give credence to is that every shift has a counter shift.

Upsetting the Status Quo

It is as simple as the feeling of comfort and the status quo. We feel safe in the status quo. Not too much risk and we feel more relaxed.

Shifts can be scary. Even when they are desired, there is still an element of fear connected to the unknown.

If you are contemplating or have recently made a change, what is the push back to that change? Have you prepared for it?

Counter Shift

Social media has been a shift to the marketing and advertising world.

A front runner like eBay changed the supply and demand aspect for many products quickly.

Retail has shifted, not only because of eCommerce at large, but also because of the front runner, Amazon.

What is the counter shift to these scenarios?

Many people suggest that trust and relationships have shifted as a result of the social media experience. Some good and some not so good.

Items that were once scarce are suddenly more available because of eBay. This changes the supply and demand, affects price and costs, and also may change lives.

Retail is different. Convenience is both King and Queen for many. Some have felt pain, others amass their piece of a small (or large) fortune in the process.

Consider the change in front of you, what will be on the other side of that shift?

-DEG

Dennis E. Gilbert is a business consultant, speaker (CSP^TM), and culture expert. He is a five-time author and the founder of Appreciative Strategies, LLC. His business focuses on positive human performance improvement solutions through Appreciative Strategies®. Reach him through his website at Dennis-Gilbert.com or by calling +1 646.546.5553.

20
Mar 19
-

Leadership Habit 42: Navigating Leadership Opportunity

Tags : leadership opportunity status quo stuck

One day you are rolling along and things seem to be going well, then you hit a roadblock. This is both the challenge and opportunity of leadership. How are you navigating leadership opportunity?

Change is a process. When we consider employees who are facing a change, that is the external event. How people transition through a change event is an internal process.

Is it possible that people and teams get stuck in the transition? Yes, they sometimes hit a wall or encounter a hurdle that appears too tall.

It may appear easier to just hunker down in place.

Stuck in Status Quo

In a very natural way people often try to protect the status quo. Their thought is, “Don’t change a thing, protect and defend, it took a lot of effort to get here, let’s keep it this way.”

This isn’t the challenge of leadership.

Getting stuck, or especially staying stuck, just doesn’t seem like leading.

In leadership seminars I sometimes witness the frustration of middle or front-line management team members feeling sandwiched. Stuck between process and policy.

They are often almost desperate to find a way to navigate the challenge of productivity while also staying in their lane and coloring inside the lines. In some ways they may feel hypocritical and forced to play politics.

Leading offers new opportunity.

Leadership Opportunity

An opportunity to lead, to find a way, create a path. Not a path of destruction but a path that leads out of stopped, stalled, or stuck.

When roadblocks, obstacles, or adverse conditions occur, this is the time for leadership.

It is easy to observe and say, “Yup, we’re stuck.” The challenge is navigating the situation differently to breakthrough or break free.

-DEG

Dennis E. Gilbert is a business consultant, speaker (CSP^TM), and culture expert. He is a five-time author and the founder of Appreciative Strategies, LLC. His business focuses on positive human performance improvement solutions through Appreciative Strategies®. Reach him through his website at Dennis-Gilbert.com or by calling +1 646.546.5553.

20
Sep 18
-

Safety Zone and The Status Quo Approach

Tags : change risk safety zone status quo workplace engagement

Safety is something that most humans covet. It’s an inherent part of our evolution. We like to feel safe. Is operating in your safety zone or the status quo holding you back?

Safety and the status quo tend to keep everyone stuck.

Status Quo is Sticky

We don’t speak up at the meeting. It is safer to just observe. It saves embarrassment, perhaps revealing a weakness, or worse, getting blacklisted or fired for a bad idea.

We don’t apply for the new job. Maybe we aren’t that good. Maybe we’ll fail, or maybe they will decide they don’t like me so I better stay put. It is safe.

It is often suggested to represent the evidence of loyalty, commitment, or how we do it here.

Gradually, across time, our jobs and workplaces create the feeling of safety and security. There is a feeling of comfort in the status quo.

The Paradox

Yet, every day organizations are mostly looking to serve more, do more, create new, get bigger, be stronger, and last longer.

The contrast between safety and change is sometimes nearly invisible to the employee, yet the lingering feeling is often a cause for discomfort.

It is ever present in the job change. The increased workload. Picking up the slack for another person or workgroup, or the message from leadership that the economic climate requires change.

Safety Zone

It is ironic that the best organizations are the ones operating on the edge. The very edge of in control versus out of control. The organization that pushes the button, finds ways to become more efficient, and takes big leaps while others stand wishfully pondering the edge.

Everything is changing. Changing rapidly. The status quo is not safe.

True for the organization. True for the individual.

Excitement, engagement, and growth happen just on the other side of the safety zone.

-DEG

Dennis E. Gilbert is a business consultant, speaker (CSP^TM), and corporate trainer. He is a five-time author and the founder of Appreciative Strategies, LLC. His business focuses on positive human performance improvement solutions through Appreciative Strategies®. Reach him through his website at Dennis-Gilbert.com or by calling +1 646.546.5553.

Dennis Gilbert on Google+

25
May 18
-

Good Difference, Are You Making One?

Tags : change choice difference pivot status quo

Monday through Friday is a popular schedule for many workers, others are six or even seven days nearly every week. People and businesses are often trying to make a difference. The question may be, is it a good difference?

When you ask around, most people will probably quickly agree that the World around us is changing. Are you changing, is your organization changing, or should changes be happening?

Status Quo

Choice conditions whether we change. Change is a decision. It is easy to fall in love with the status quo. In the status quo the risk feels much less. People believe, “I know this works and I’m sticking with it.”

Many people approach their Monday through Friday doing what works. Doing it over and over again, week after week, as the World changes. Change doesn’t always need to happen, but is it happening enough? Enough for you, your career, or your business?

We often pick the low hanging fruit. That is the easy fruit, reachable, achievable, and enjoyable. Life is easy, just pick what you can and move on to the next. It feels comfortable to fall in love with easy.

If nothing ever changes, easy may continue to work for a long time, or theoretically forever. In a World that is stuck or standing still there isn’t much need for change.

Good Difference

Is there a requirement for something different? Is there a requirement for change? When you recognize that the World isn’t standing still you may also realize you need to make a difference. A good difference, not a bad choice.

Choice is scary because it comes without a warranty or guarantee. What you do next may not work. It may have bugs, kinks, and turn off the people you’ve worked hard to please.

Getting a ladder to pick the fruit others are skipping, the fruit we’ve never reached for, has an unknown level of success. There is choice and risk involved. Will it be a good difference?

If nothing is changing, then I guess it makes sense to just keep doing the same thing. No need for different.

-DEG

Dennis E. Gilbert is a business consultant, speaker (CSP^TM), 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.

Dennis Gilbert on Google+

23
Mar 18
-

Confronting the Status Quo, What Is It Worth?

Tags : change confront hard work status quo 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 (CSP^TM), 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.

Dennis Gilbert on Google+

30
Nov 17
-

Organizational Rules and the Status Quo

Tags : leadership motivation organizational rules status quo

Most businesses have rules. There may be rules connected with dress code, rules for engaging the client, and rules for how the product or service will be built and delivered. Organizational rules are often designed for two purposes, to keep things in check and maintain the status quo.

Rules are probably a good idea. We had them on the playground as children, we had them (hopefully) in our home, and now we face them in the workplace and as part of society.

In business though, the status quo can be problematic. In many cases, we need to think about changing our logic, changing the way we have learned our entire life.

Status Quo

Businesses often need great leaders, and great leaders sometimes have to break the rules. This doesn’t mean that they do something unethical or break what we all know as the formality of law, but it means they stand up and do something different.

We’ve seen examples of breaking the status quo with Erin Brockovich, we know of it through political challenges such as those pursued by Annie Kenney, and even the founding and establishment of the United States required breaking some rules.

Recently, our news has been littered with examples of rules broken and the status quo changed. A recent example that has almost become a daily occurrence with public figures involves Matt Lauer. People are speaking up, a form of a rule broken, the status quo changed.

The status quo is easy. It is breaking the cycle that is challenging.

Organizational Rules

Most of the rules in our organizations today are designed to protect something. Protect the flow of work, protect the individuals, and to protect the integrity and quality of the brand. Those aren’t bad rules, they are arguably good ones.

However, following the rules is about mind-set. It is a framework that we’ve learned our entire life.

What is so much fun about a well-managed brainstorming session? You get to break the rules.

Leaders Rise Up

Perhaps the best leadership exists in an environment where organizational rules are open to challenge and the status quo shattered.

Is it time to allow the rebel inside to rise up? Should you explore a different path, break a barrier or frame, metaphorically throw the organizational rulebook out the window?

Let’s not forget about the path that was examined a couple of years ago but was quickly discarded because it stepped beyond the status quo.

Speed of Business

We often talk about time related to speed, “Where did the time go?” or “Time flies,” are common expressions. The speed of business has never been more important.

We need leaders who appropriately devour the status quo.

Imagine if we make the difference sooner, or first.

What does that look like?

-DEG

Dennis E. Gilbert is a business consultant, speaker (CSP^TM), 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.

Dennis Gilbert on Google+

Tag Archives: status quo

Sep 21

-

Status Quo Defense

Sep 20

-

Welcome the New Fleet

Navigating Change

New Workforce Normal

Jan 20

-

Upsetting the Status Quo

Counter Shift

Mar 19

-

Stuck in Status Quo

Leadership Opportunity

Sep 18

-

Status Quo is Sticky

The Paradox

Safety Zone

May 18

-

Status Quo

Good Difference

Mar 18

-

What’s it Worth

Energy Spending

Status Quo

Nov 17

-

Status Quo

Organizational Rules

Leaders Rise Up

Speed of Business

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