New Levels, Same ‘Devils’ (Avoiding Old Practices in the New Normal)

New Levels, Same ‘Devils’ (Avoiding Old Practices in the New Normal) – by Arnie Wohlgemut

What does the future look like? Do I have what it takes? What will the new normal be?

Stay with me, I know these questions have been said many times in this past year.

“Somethings deserve our attention. Somethings deserve our focus.”

Arnie Wohlgemut

It has struck me that many of us are trying to build a new normal by using the picture on someone else’s LEGO box, but with our pieces. We want to have the picture-perfect life that we see in our hero’s and those we admire, but we may not have all the pieces required!

As our career progresses, we model what we have been shown and modelled. I.e., New levels, same devils. Here are four pieces you have at your disposal to successfully move to new levels.

“Sometimes we repeat the demonstrated leadership without even thinking maybe it’s time to adopt a new leadership style.”

Arnie Wohlgemut

• Leadership styles. I have seen this many times, young leaders act out in the same way that their previous manager did. I have seen their actions and know that it is not inline with their core beliefs. Yet they honestly believe; I lived through this and I turned out okay!

“Mentors are invaluable in your growth process, but not if you just act like a member of their fan club. Take the info and do the work.”

Dave Gambrill

• Mentorship matters. It may not be a formal mentorship arrangement that you have with your people, but they are always watching. Even if they do not do the work, they may some day emulate what you show them. Fortunately, not only the bad behaviour, sometimes the good as well.

“It’s not about the furniture, it’s about the foundation.”

Steven Furtick

• Team leadership. Building a team is like a great quarterback on a Super Bowl winning team. They survey the situation, then they decide on what play, or player could move the team forward towards the goal line. Sometimes they pass it to someone else to run with it, or the quarterback has to move to see the options or carry the ball himself. Then there are times when the ball must be thrown, with precision, to the player in the best situation to catch it and run with it.

All these moves were made possible through evaluation, training, and preparation. We should build our teams in the same way. Evaluate their skills and abilities of each individual. Provide training to hone in their skills to the highest possible level and prepare them for the time when their skill and leadership is needed.

“Maybe my future requires me to keep doing what I am doing with a better attitude and a new perspective.”

Arnie Wohlgemut

• Attitude. Over this past week, I have been pondering with the idea that for us to build a new normal, a new business, or a new career, we have to get rid of stuff that keeps us in the old normal. In many situations, it is our attitude towards accepting change. It is taking what we have seen on the mountain and build it in the valley. A winning attitude never fails!

As this COVID19 pandemic has shown us, we do not always choose the transportation to our goal, it is given to us. I encourage you to build your own path to a new normal, using the pieces you have within you. Do not to build your future using someone else’s LEGO pieces.