Working outside the Box

During this incredible time, we are all looking at and reflecting on what we can do or maybe could have done differently. Everyone has been touched by the Pandemic that has spread across the globe. It’s pretty unusual for something to impact on so many people in such a short time frame. But here we are, facing uncertain times in the short term, and an unknown new world to emerge into, in an unspecified time.

Whether you are watching the news or social media, or not, you will be aware that thousands of people will come out of this experience different to how they went into it. How will your life have been changed? Some things are almost impossible to consider, but for most of us, if we had hindsight or 20/20 vision (how ironic is that?) we could have been a little bit more prepared.

The Law of Requisite Variety is the concept of having more choices and variety in how to respond to change. The theory is, having the ability to flex and adapt means that when something out of the ordinary happens you have the tools to deal with it.

If you only make square nuts and bolts, what happens when you customer wants round ones? If you only communicate in writing, what happens when everyone uses electronic methods instead? If you only like to meet people face to face, what happens when the county is on lockdown?

How ready where you for this be change?

How ready was your business/product/service?

How ready was your workforce?

By increasing your ability to respond differently to a variety of situations (and to be honest, who saw this coming) the more able you are to react quickly and effectively with a variety of solutions. This is more than being able to think outside the box, this is being able to work outside of the box.

If you are struggling with dealing with this change or would like to learn how to flex your working style or operation, this is a great time to work with a coach.

If you have a team who needs to flex their style of working, look out for resources for online virtual performance management and team building solutions. We are fortunate to live in a world where technology can help us. It just about being flexible in your approach.

I’m all about creating light bulb moments for people in business, if you want to shine a light to help your team see the end of the tunnel, let me know.

Written by Viki Johnston, a Brit who has recently moved to Southern California with her family is a self-confessed learning junkie. Having flunked out of school at 17, she spent the next 30 (cough) years trying to figure out why learning stuff is so hard. She made it her mission to help others believe in their abilities and achieve more than they thought possible. Now through her coaching and business focused training she helps others to experience the “light bulb moment” and strive to greatness.

Her heroes are Sir Richard Branson and Brené Brown for their inspiration, and her Husband, whom without she would never have been able to live a life full of her own “light bulb moments”.