Can You Proactively Prepare to Pivot?
How would you like to be more prepared to handle any change that comes your way? We live in an environment where the business landscape is constantly evolving. Change is coming to us at an accelerated pace. This makes the ability to adapt and pivot crucial for long-term success. While we cannot predict these situations, can we be proactive to pivot about a change?
Pivoting allows businesses to respond to changing market conditions, customer demands, and technological advancements. It also allows us to change directions to meet personal life-changing events.
To pivot effectively, we need to recognize when a change is necessary. This realization can come from declining sales, changes in customer preferences, or even global events.
The Coronavirus (Covid-19) forced the world to pivot. We saw the unprecedented invention of new vaccines when governments and competitors decided to collaborate. It caused us to pivot in how we connected with family members by leveraging tools like video conferencing.
The terrorist act on US soil on September 11, 2001, forced the world to pivot in the face of the threat. An unpleasant medical result can cause us to pivot to handle a life-changing situation. These changes force us to react, and for many, that can be very difficult. However, can we proactively prepare to pivot more effectively when faced with future changes?
I understand. We don’t know what change will come. We also don’t know what tomorrow will bring, but we don’t wait until tomorrow to plan for the day. We don’t know if we will live to enjoy retirement, but we stash away thousands and even millions of dollars in preparation. Similarly, we can prepare today to pivot when a change inevitably arrives at our doorsteps.
How to Proactively Prepare to Pivot
Many situations will inevitably drive a need for you to pivot. How can you plan to pivot effectively?
- Reframe your thinking and have the mindset to create the change you want. A quote attributed to Abraham Lincoln and Peter Drucker says, “The best way to predict the future is to create it.” For example, instead of waiting for that promotion that may never come, identify new opportunities, develop a plan, and go after that job opportunity to get the salary and growth opportunity you deserve.
- Take time to understand the emotional change cycle and how you could react to a change. Being aware means, you are halfway to success. There are many models describing the emotional change cycle but the four basic stages are 1) denial of what is happening, 2) resistance to the change, 3) exploration of the change, and 4) commitment to the new beginning. Based on your reaction to a change, you can logically assess where you are in the cycle and what action you need to make progress.
- Develop a bias for agility. That means being ready and open-minded to move and flow as needed. This requires the ability to learn, adapt, and act quickly and decisively to barriers and speedbumps. Having that mindset minimizes the emotional impact of a pivot because you will spend less time in the first two stages of the change cycle (denial and resistance) and more time exploring and committing to the path forward.
- Be clear on your personal mission, values, and goals. These define who you are and what you are about. They are your guide post to business and personal change and can point you to one of three responses. First, there are some changes, whether by choice or default, you will have to explore and adopt. Second, some changes will force you to join the fight for what is right and resist the change. Third, there are some changes you may just need to stand down and move to a different playing field. Being clear on who you are and what you are about ahead of time will make it easier to confidently evaluate these choices when a change comes.
- Develop a strong network of resources to draw from. The more effective your network, the easier it will be to find trusting resources to help you navigate a change when it comes. This includes both personal and professional connections. Nurturing these relationships will make it easier to reach out to them when you are in a critical situation. They may provide support by sharing their experiences, providing resources to help, or helping with coaching and direction.
Pivoting is essential to thrive in today’s dynamic environments. It is, therefore, crucial to be ready to pivot when needed. This means reframing our thinking, being open to adapt and flow with a change, knowing who we are and what we are about, and having resources to draw from for support and guidance.
If the change brings a setback, we must be resilient enough to learn from the experience and use the setback to bounce back. Change is inevitable. It will come. Instead of being reactive to change, we can be proactive and plan.
Empowered Leader Reflection
What one thing can you do now to be better prepared to pivot when a change comes?
Your turn. Would you share your reflection with us in the Reply section below?
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