What new normal? Are you still searching? This is the question being asked by Mavericks everywhere! It’s utterly perplexing for some mavericks to recognise that the rest of the population hates change and actively resists it. The conversations around understanding that we are ‘in the new normal’, is stranger yet. After all, ponders the Maverick, isn’t the new normal something you seek everyday as a matter of course?
One of the most popular personality theories at the moment is ‘The Big 5 Personality Traits’. This theory looks at the interaction of the 5 following components:
- Openness to experience
- Conscientiousness
- Extraversion
- Agreeableness
- Emotional Stability
As you can see from © The Maverick Personality Chart below, the Maverick personality loves change (Openness to experience).
Extract from The Maverick Paradox: The Secret Power Behind Successful Leaders:
‘We can see that mavericks tend to score highly in the ‘Openness to experience trait’. This usually demonstrates that mavericks are likely to be more creative, curious, and aware of their feelings than other people. They are more likely to hold unconventional beliefs or ideas and prefer novelty over routine’.
Change is something mavericks seek, even long for. Once something becomes routine, they struggle to remain focused on it. In my article ‘Where’s the change in that?’ I touch on this insatiable need for the novel.
Why should this trait be nurtured in others?
Because all good Maverick Leaders recognise that this is the nature of things. To accept change and not fear it, means you are open to the possibilities that it brings. This is not a negation of any doubts or worries about what the change may bring, more a realisation that nothing ever stays the same. Especially now.
Conformists are beginning to understand, what the Maverick always knew, that the world will continue to bring change, unexpected and turbulent at times, with an every increasing frequency.
Roll with the changes – or be buried under them. These are the choices that you have. Knowing this, brings the freedom of possibilities and growth – physical, mental and emotional. This is one of the gifts that Maverick Leaders bring to you, the ability to grow and execute well on the things that impose demands on you.
Maverick Leaders understand that their ability to seek and implement revolutionary change relies on their ability to make that change feel evolutionary in others. An ingredient of the Maverick Leader’s (and their organisation’s) success, is their ability to make others yearn to capitalise on change as if their life demands on it.
And in some ways it does.
What new normal? Are you still searching? There is a fallacy that exists regarding the Covid-19 pandemic. That the changes that take place during the Covid-19 will last and these changes are establishing the ‘new normal’.
It is a fallacy that doesn’t stand up under scrutiny.
With this fallacy comes the belief that normal is stable. That we have moved from a position of ‘normality’ to a period of change, to a new period of ‘normality’. Perhaps this cycle has passed as truth in the past. However, Maverick Leaders know a deeper truth.
All you have is ‘what is happening now’. When your perspective includes this view you are more agile and more likely to respond to change than react to it. Allowing your other Maverick KEYSTONE Capabilities™ to come into play.
What new normal? Are you still searching? It’s more pertinent to consider that the ‘new normal’, is in fact that, constant change is a factor of life. To resist this fact is to reject the reality of your eyes. Whilst this ‘new’ reality had been denied by many prior to Covid-19, it is now writ large, for all to see.
Roll with the changes – or be buried under them. This understanding is a foundation block of Maverick Leadership, which I have been assisting clients with for years. Maverick Leaders know that there will always be change – plan for it, live it, exit it.
Wash, rinse and repeat.
The ability to be a Maverick Leader is not restricted to individuals who have the title of manager or leader. Everyone has the capacity be a Maverick Leader, with a change mindset that brings success for the company and growth for the individual.
It’s necessary, it’s teachable, just ask me how.
A progressive organisation or aspirational employee should seriously consider how soon they want to have or become a ‘change ready’ Maverick Leader. One that has a mindset for change. An ability to be excited by change and be able to pace others through change. This is an important leadership characteristic.
One thing that we know for sure. The world needs leaders. Specifically Maverick Leaders, anticipating the future, behaving with integrity, working for the greater good. Leading your organisation to a place where your employees are keen to work in, your competitors want to follow and your customers want to buy from.
What new normal? Are you still searching? There is no normal. What we have is now. If you are forward thinking, you will have Maverick Leaders able and willing to anticipate the future and be able to deliver it. With grace, integrity and success.
Contact me today to be a forward thinking leader. There is no ‘new normal’, what we have is now.
Act.
