Employees often join an
organisation with big expectations and high hopes but soon realise the big gap
between what they thought would happen and the reality.
They may have expected
to experience opportunities for impact and growth but instead had to settle for
uncreative tasks and a monotonous routine.
Employees that work in
an organisation with a lacklustre culture may find themselves unable to bring
about positive changes in their organisation as well as in their work.
But as we know, not
every person may react the same way and that there are people who may have a
completely different experience despite being subjected to similar
circumstances.
Such people are
generally able to optimise their experience and create a positive change in
their organisation and also advance their career and have fun along the way.
These people can be
thought of as ‘workplace mavericks’ and following are strategies that one can
implement to have a better culture in their organisation:
Being an Improvement Addict
Some employees are
smart enough to not keep guessing as to what their employer needs or go over
existing work over and over again. They do different things in order to set themselves
apart.
Sometimes we need to
stop thinking from the perspective of an employee and begin to think along the
lines of your company’s customer and understand what they are getting and how
the company can improve what they are offering to their customers.
Doing such things can
give you unique insights into the company’s functioning and as a result you
will have the ability to do different things or do things differently. You will
be able to identify which processes and products are working and which aren’t
working. Turning them around can prove to be opportunities for innovation.
Make It Easy to Say Yes
Workplace mavericks
realise that resistance to change and the resulting inconveniences is one of
the biggest problems that they face. They are therefore required to come up
with a technique that can dampen this initial resistance and a good way to do
this would be to institute a ‘no commitment’ strategy.
If there is a strategy
which you wish to implement but expect there to be resistance for the same you
can commit to your team that it would be a temporary trial and that if it
doesn’t work you will revert back to the original process. This should help you
in overcoming initial inertia allowing you to move at a steady pace from that
point onwards.
Finding Champions
As a leader, if you
want to implement a new process but fear that there will be some resistance to
it or that your superiors will not approve of it, you can try running a pilot
project. In order to make this process see the light of the day, you may have
to find those employees within the organisation that vouch for the idea and are
willing to participate in its implementation.
Just like the quality
of your idea or product is important, having the ability to find your internal
sponsors or champion is important too if you wish to turn things around and
create a real change. There is another way you can spot talent in your
organisation and for this, you may have to find out more on corporate days out.
Learn From Failure
You must be familiar
with the common adage which says that one must fail fast and also learn fast.
But for those who have been high achieving all their life, it may be easier
said than done. Certain executives may be terrified at the thought of
encountering failure let alone embrace it.
Those who never fail
are also those who have never really taken a risk. But if you wish to advance
in your goals, whether it is to launch your own organisation or claim a seat in
the C-suite you may have to take intelligent risks.
Workplace mavericks
realise that they may have to give up on any attachment towards perfection, be
prepared for failure, find motivation and inspiration in the approach that
didn’t work out.
Changing things is
seldom easy and a price must be paid by those who undertake this journey. But
if you wish to be a crusader of change you must be willing to go through the
grind and be unafraid of trying new things.
