Change Can Be Easy
It’s important to be aware of our behaviors, both the good and the bad. Do you become defensive when things don’t go your way? Are you quick to anger when you make a mistake? Are you impatient when coworkers do not operate as quickly as you do? Do you talk too much during meetings? None of these are flattering habits. By practicing self-awareness, we can catch ourselves when we fall into bad behaviors. However, it’s not enough to be aware of your personal failings. Jennifer Porter, managing partner of The Boda Group, teaches the importance of self-management. This is a learnable skill that allows us to turn self- awareness into self-improvement. According to Porter, self-management can be achieved in six steps: 1. “Decide where you want to self-manage.” Practice self- awareness to identify behaviors you aren’t proud of and actively decide to work toward self-improvement. 2. “Notice and reflect on what’s driving your lack of self-management.” Notice how you feel in those moments when your behavior is not your best. Ask yourself what is driving that action to understand what motivates your poor behavior. 3. “Consider your choices and your reactions to those choices.” Instead of responding with your default behavior, what else could you do? How do you feel about those other options? 4. “Make a plan.” Think of what concrete steps you can take to correct your poor behavior. Make an actionable plan that you can follow the next time you’re about to fall into an unwanted habit. SELF- AWARENESS MEANS NOTHING Take Action Toward Self-Improvement
Pam Marmon’s Outline for Effective Post-Pandemic Transformation
Pam Marmon understands what it means to adapt. After growing up in Bulgaria, Marmon had to modify her way of living when she emigrated to the U.S. Today, she’s a CEO, entrepreneur, wife, and mother who believes that change doesn’t have to be difficult. In fact, she’s mastered it. Marmon has even established a company, Marmon Consulting, that helps other companies develop strategies for executing transformation.
In Marmon’s book, “No One’s Listening and It’s Your Fault: Get Your Message Heard During Organizational Transformations,” she outlines her proven
methods for effective communication in any company setting, from a major corporation to a family business. Released on March 24, 2020, Marmon’s advice is timely in a period when many business owners are searching for proactive solutions and the next step in finding post-pandemic success. Marmon’s book is the perfect guide for business leaders who recognize the need for tangible change and want to execute it as effectively as possible. The key, Marmon explains, is to identify your company’s culture and cater your plan’s language to suit what will resonate with your employees the most. This will establish a sense of alignment with your business’s vision and direction, which can be one of the biggest hurdles to overcome. You cannot achieve success in a period of change if your team is doubtful and unwilling. With your company united toward your vision, you can begin to enact real change. However, this is only the beginning. Marmon’s book also outlines how to connect with fellow leaders in your company to develop a framework for growth. By creating a stable foundation and inspiring change, you’ll find this time of major transition to be much smoother than you may have anticipated. As a result, your company will come out on top at the end of the COVID-19 era. Marmon’s mantra is inspiring: “With the proper process, change is not hard.” And with her book, “No One’s Listening and It’s Your Fault,” business leaders can see just how simple change can be.
5. “Practice.” You won’t master a new habit in a day. Practice self- management again and again until it becomes second nature.
6. “Repeat the process.” Your first plan may not be the best one. At each opportunity, evaluate your behavior and vow to stick to the path of self-improvement. Self-management is not easy, but it is a necessary skill we must all build. Self-awareness alone means nothing if you don’t work to improve yourself. When you do not work toward self-improvement, that awareness just becomes an excuse.
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