I had my 6th practice with the little software company a client bought last Fall. Finally, today was MAGIC.
The first 5 practices you could sense F_ _ _-bombs going off all around. You could smell them. Feel them. Just not hear them. Not with the new “head of the system” present.
The F_ _ _-bomb we don’t talk about is Fear. Fear holds most teams back, especially those who have been bought, merged, or taken over. Chet’s been reading the book “Why We Do What We Do” with a familiar melody line — the human plight of “Loss Aversiveness”. Loss Aversiveness is why most of us “settle” for mediocre lives. It’s why we stay in jobs we have no passion for. It’s why we hold onto declining stocks way too long. It’s why the average survivor in the World Trade Centers waited 6 minutes before they went to the exit. And it’s why the average survivor of a MERGER stays in their shell.
That’s exactly what PRACTICE is for — to break the shell of Loss Aversiveness.
Today’s practice began by drawing two circles, a smaller one inside a bigger one — like an egg frying in a pan. The “yolk” or inner circle represents our comfort zone. The “egg white” or outer circle (aka the “albumin,” thank you Donovan) represents our “growth” zone — there’s challenge there that will stretch us but not burn us. Past the outer circle, the frying pan itself represents our “PANic” zone.
Fear of the PANic zone is why, when we feel a little heat, our Loss Aversiveness tells us not to “break the yolk” of our comfort zone. But an egg yolk that’s “easy” now gets “hard” later, and it’s the same way with our comfort zone, which over time will harden & even shrink if we don’t habituate breaking out of it. That’s the recipe for a life unlived, and one filled with increasing anxiety, not comfort.
Through PRACTICE, just this side of chaos, we begin breaking the yolk of our comfort zone early & often. The result? Our comfort zone actually gets bigger — encircling even beyond the old PANic zone over time. Doing what’s hard & scary now makes for easy later.
That’s the recipe for a great life, a great team, and ESPECIALLY for dealing with any kind of merger, buyout, takeover or major staff change (thanks for this insight, Kirk – you’re a great addition to the Band). Through a commitment to PRACTICE, this little software team with its new company & new leader finally broke out of their shell & comfort zone today, broke the yoke of Fear, and took major strides toward becoming ONE — culminating with each of 4 tables presenting a Productive Action idea to dramatically improve performance & productivity. Afterwards, the only scrambling going on was the chaos of high fives!
p.s. To experience a BUILT TO LEAD practice with your team, give us a call — we’d be glad to arrange a “taste.”
BUILT TO LEAD 