Influential leaders almost always are highly dissatisfied with ‘status quo’. They are unwilling to allow preventable pain and suffering to continue needlessly. They are unwilling to waste precious resources and to settle for second-rate productivity and financial performance. Volition enables dissatisfied leaders to make a choice to bring back emotional meaning and purpose to their work.
Richard Beckhard and Rubin Harris offer this classic equation regarding change resistance:
dissatisfaction x desirability x practicality >(is greater than) resistance to change. Volition increases the desirability factor in this change equation. People will likely voluntarily change their behaviour if they are told the “why” (the conviction) before they are taught the “what” (convincing) and the “how” (compelling). This concept has existed in neuroscience and in clinical psychology for a long time. Simon Sinek has been able, most recently, to talk about “begin with why” in a way that is resonating throughout multiple industries and leadership boardrooms.
Suffice it to say, all great innovation, really big changes, are inspired by the concept of “why” – the purpose, the cause, and the belief in what many peak performers refer to as the ‘urgency imperative’. If you inspire me by raising my level of dissatisfaction with the status quo, raising my level of desire by demonstrating the benefits, and showing me that what you are asking me to do is practical, doable and achievable, then you increase the likelihood of me embracing the change.
Saying no to the status quo means change must happen. To change behaviour you must first use experience to change the thinking of previously held beliefs. Experience generates knowledge and emotion that inform future experiences. The more positive the feelings and the more direct the linkage to experience, the more likely thinking and beliefs are to change. When thinking and beliefs change (dissatisfaction, desirability, practicality) so do behaviours.
When you are ready for change, learning the skill of Positive Presence provides a systematic, programmatic methodology for transforming the intangible thoughts and beliefs to tangible, positive workplace behaviour. Positive Presence programs equip influential leaders with the knowledge and understanding necessary for developing and sustaining an innovative thought model connecting workplace behaviour to human energy — – it demonstrates and develops the connection between the tangible and the intangible.
Catherine is the President and CEO of CORPORATE HARMONY, providing virtual solutions for leadership development and organizational culture change. Her leadership and coaching experience as a Project Manager in an ever-changing, fast moving technological organization with unrelenting demands drove her to the realization that a positive mindset and strength-building behaviors are essential for today’s complex and chaotic organizational systems. CORPORATE HARMONY’s virtual platform of programs, coaching and performance measurement, is an innovative online technology of tested proprietary content. The world-class content of CORPORATE HARMONY’s Positive Presence Program develops the skill of ‘Positive Presence’ and the necessary ‘Positive Presence Behaviour Competencies’ for maintaining a positive and energized mindset and increased performance in today’s complex work environment, and leading to a culture of collaboration and connection. Catherine’s vision for Corporate Harmony is to bring the skill of “Positive Presence” to the corporate world as it becomes more complex, ambiguous and chaotic. Catherine is uniquely positioned to impact organizations’ productivity and long term success, with her powerful vision of eliminating bad stress from every workplace around the globe, bringing purpose into the people equation to promote healthy, productive and meaningful work cultures and turn the tide on the neglect of mental health on a global scale. Catherine is author of the book: “CORPORATE HARMONY – The Performance Link for Today’s Modern Organization” Catherine can be reached at: Catherine.Osborne@corporateharmony.ca or go to ‘contact us’ on our website www.corporateharmony.ca. Catherine is available for consultation, and can be reached by 519-695-3407.