Crazed metaphors: lilies and change

Change can be overwhelming, especially when we are not ready for it. Consider this puzzle: There is a large pond with only one water lily floating in it. But there are more water lilies in the store. In fact, every day the number of water lilies doubles until, on the thirtieth day, the water in the pond can no longer be seen: the surface is completely covered with vegetation. When was the pond half full?

If you have taken a minute to consider the problem, you know that the answer does not come quickly. (Many people will say that when the pond was half full, the time period was half over. They think on the 15th). The answer, however, is on the 29th. Given the doubling that occurs, the pond will be half covered on the 29th and fully covered on the 30th. Interestingly, on the 20th, only 0.2% of the pond surface it is covered with water lilies.

FROM LILIES TO LEADERSHIP

Use this lily metaphor to remind you of the speed at which change can occur. When two-thirds of the time has elapsed in a given period of time, the change will appear minimal: only 0.2% of the change that will occur may be apparent. Consider what Jack Welch, known as the Manager of the Century, has to say on the subject. “If the rate of change outside the organization is greater than the rate of change within, then we are looking at the beginning of the end.”

If you are leading the life of your choice, whether you are in a managerial position at your job, you need to be aware of the changes that occur outside of your life organization, the changes that may affect you and the people and things you have Dear.

Numerous reports, for example, tell us that in less than 20 years, robots and artificial intelligence could replace 40% of the jobs currently held in various industries. If you will be working 20 years from now, it may be time to start researching what your job will look like in the future.

POSSIBILITIES TO IMAGINE

As difficult as it is to imagine yourself being replaced by something human, it can be helpful to imagine other possibilities. Don’t reject the unthinkable. In fact, sometimes the weirder the concept, the more likely it is to yield important information. Tom Peters, who sought excellence in the 1980s and sold millions of books on the subject, advises companies to “have at least one weirdo on staff.” The person who thinks differently often possesses knowledge that does not occur to those who are committed to maintaining the status quo.

ASK QUESTIONS

Whether you are currently employed by a company, anticipating entry into the job market, determined to do it alone as an entrepreneur, or simply looking to make calibrations in your life, use these questions to help prepare for a future that won’t.

look like the limits of your current life. If you doubt how quickly a particular institution or practice can change, just consider the differences in the 2016 presidential election process and the 2012 process.

1. What was your reaction when you first heard about a specific change, such as predictions about robots? Now think about a change that has already impacted you.

2. Did you have negative feelings about the change (such as guilt, fear, anxiety, anger, betrayal, or hopelessness)? How can you deal with them? If the change you are considering has already occurred, how could you have coped better with your feelings?

3. How did the change affect you personally? What were the advantages and disadvantages? Were you able to objectively analyze the costs and benefits? How could you have done a better job?

4. What were some of the questions you had when the change was announced? How did I get answers to these questions? How could you have done a better job of getting the questions answered?

5. How did your family or others close to you react to the changes? How could you have better presented the information to these people? How could they have been more supportive?

6. Were you ready for the change? How did you prepare for the change? How could you prepare for the next change?

7. What support did you receive from those who populate the various circles of your life? How could you have gotten better support?

8. Did new opportunities arise as a result of this change? Were you aware of these potential opportunities at the beginning of the change?

9. What losses occurred as a result of this change? How did you manage? How could you have faced them better?

10. Do you ever feel betrayed by an individual, a community, or even life itself? How did you regain your confidence?

11. How long did it take you to recover from the change? What could you have done to be more resilient and recover faster?

12. What new skills or learning did you have to acquire after the change? How quickly and effectively did you learn these skills? How could you have done better?

13. Do you feel more confident about the changes you will face in the future? If not, what plans do you have to deal with the next change?

A PRESIDENTIAL PREDICTION

It was John F. Kennedy who affirmed that “change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or to the present will surely miss the future.” Ideally, to finish with another metaphor, you are obeying the law and by doing so you are preparing yourself for a better future.