It’s hard to believe that we are halfway through 2019!   And, with only six months remaining till we close out the year, I think this is an important time (if you have not done so already) to identify your status quo and challenge it.  I know many of you may ask why would I challenge my status quo? After all, there is no absolute reason to change what is already going well, or is it?

One of the great markings of a leader is one that continuously looks at themselves and asks, how I can do better or how can I improve a process?  They are intentionally looking for opportunities to grow outside of their comfort zone of what is working and deliberately choosing to challenge the existing state.  We can look to the many organizations that are disappearing from the marketplace as evidence on the importance of continuously looking for opportunities to disrupt the norm.  So, how can you challenge your status quo?

I think there are two ways we can start challenging our status quo. The first thing that you must do is remain teachable.  Unfortunately, remaining teachable can be a huge stumbling block for many.  Many of us have vested a lot of time and energy navigating the educational institutions and climbing the corporate ladder and taking delight in the fact that you have “arrived”.  The reality (at least for those successful leaders) is that you will never truly “arrive”.   There will always be a need for you to be mentored or coached if you are going to be intentional about challenging the status quo and growing.  The second and probably the most important action is you must never stop learning. You should seek out knowledge daily as if your job / career depends on it.  The moment that you choose not to learn and grow, is the moment when you have accepted your status quo and submitted your resignation papers.

In sum, identifying your status quo is not a hard task.  It’s most likely something that you are proud of and have no desire to change because it simply works.  But if growth is what you really desire and seek, you will need to look at that very thing that has your admiration and challenge it.  What is your status quo and how will you grow from it?