The enemy of change is perceived certainty.
Certainty is created by beliefs, though beliefs are usually disputable.
No doubt believe that the world is round. Of course you are wrong in that belief. It’s not quite round, its more like spherical, and probably a little lop-sided with lots of bumps and holes. In fact, those holes are pretty huge when you look at them, because at the quantum level, most of matter is invisible, as yet undetectable dark matter. Indeed, particles from outer space pass right through the earth all the time as it it wasn’t even there. Maybe it isn’t!
That may seem a little extreme, but it just illustrates that there is always a perspective attached to beliefs, and these is always something that breaks the rules.
What does this mean for you?
If you want to be agile in your thinking, you have to learn to challenge the beliefs that create your current reality, that prevents you from seeing solutions your competitors can’t see either.
To warm up those little grey cells of yours, here’s a challenge, and I’m almost prepared to put money on it that I can beat you on this one.
“You have a cake and a knife. What is the maximum number of pieces you can make with 3 cuts of the knife?”
I first heard this challenge during a session we ran with Costas Markides, Professor of Management at London Business School.
Luckily, I didn’t give my answer publicly and undermine his delivery!