Your Success Depends On Your Evolution

Aloha All,

What is evolution? Evolution is what we are meant to do. We are meant to evolve. We are not meant to stay the same.

Are you evolving or are you being a dinosaur? Remember the dinosaurs became extinct...

I had a great chat with a connection of mine that sparked this week's topic. He is a lawyer at one of the top law firms in the Netherlands and has recently taken on the additional role as a coach and mentor for those coming up the ranks.

He commented that many of the top lawyers/leaders in his firm, recognised that a positive change was needed in their workplace culture, but when stress-levels were high, they reverted back to their old habits of leading.

That is - Being "an arseh*le" (his words not mine!).

Many leaders are chosen not because of their skills as leaders, but because of their achievements of the measurable goals of the business. Consequently they aren't taught the skills necessary to lead well.

Leadership is not management (see this blog post where I talk about the difference). And Conscious Leadership is a step in the evolution of leadership.

The primary aim of Conscious Leadership is to make a positive impact than can change lives for the better. This means that from wherever you are, in whatever industry you are in, in whatever capacity your leadership role sees you in, you can become a Conscious Leader.

The primary aim of Conscious Leadership is to make a positive impact that can change lives for the better.

"We have so many programs in place, but for some of them under stress they're back to being the person they were"

This is true. For most people, "well-being" programs and learning a few techniques aren't going to make a difference to who they are.

That's because you are now asking a person to change their ingrained habits of behaviour. And if you have ever tried to change a behaviour, you know that this is extremely hard.

BUT the thing is, you are meant to evolve! You are meant to change. The reason change is so hard, is not because change itself is hard - Change is the most natural thing in the world! It happens without you having to do much at all.

The reason change is hard, is because your EGO doesn't like change. The ego seeks safety and comfort and control. Change is the enemy of the ego. It feels threatened because "Who would I be, if I changed?".

The reason change is so hard, is not because change itself is hard - Change is the most natural thing in the world... Change is hard, is because your EGO doesn't like change.

The answer is - You can be whatever you want to be. You decide. AND you get to decide at any moment.

So if change is not so hard, why is it that some leaders will never evolve into more compassionate and kind leaders? There's a wide range of reasons but some of them include:

• Their ego calling the shots.

• Lacking control of their emotions so they react rather than respond.

• Lacking commitment and dedication to the change.

• Paying lip service to the workplace programs and trainings they attended, but not really wanting to change, because who they are now, serves them somehow.

• They are in a habit of behaviour that they've decided is "just me".

By the way, I personally loath the comment "That's just the way I am!". Because I know very well, that who you think you are, can change.

Who you think you are, can change.

This is why you see people suddenly change during a mid-life crisis (or any crisis for that matter) - The consequence of staying the same, has manifested in this crisis, and the pain becomes too much. The natural urge to evolve becomes ESSENTIAL to their survival!

The thing is, YOU HAVE TO CHANGE to stay relevant. You have to change to succeed! You have to evolve.

YOU HAVE TO CHANGE to stay relevant. You have to change to succeed! You have to evolve.

There's not two ways about it. The world will continue to evolve and leave you behind.

In this conversation we talked about how there is a whole new generation that just wont put up with less than compassionate, kind conditions of work. Who demand more of the work-life balance and wont bust their gut for the man. They are our new leaders, so instead of trying to make them change, it's time for you to change.

This doesn't mean that you wont have boundaries.

Or lose control.

Or become the person they walk all over.

It just means that you learn how to lead in a different way. A way that takes care of the people here, now, and the next generation.

So are you being a dinosaur and saying to yourself:

• It's too hard to change!

• I don't want to change!

• I don't have to change!

• I don't have time to change!

You do. And you have to.

Wouldn't you rather be in the front-line of change, than be forced through transformation via crisis (to be honest, most people "choose" the latter, but you're not most people are you?).

Wouldn't you rather be in the front-line of change, than be forced through transformation via crisis?

Here's a few questions to ask yourself in terms of you as a leader and your ability to evolve:

• In what areas do I find it hard to change?

• In what areas do I want to change?

• What scares me about change?

• What do I have control over to change?

• How do I feel about change? What is my relationship with it (good or bad)?

• What associations do I have with change?

• Why do I want to change?

Leaning on the answer to the last question, is a great way to commit to change. Why. Why do you want to become a more Conscious Leader?

What is your why? Share it with us!

Have a great rest of your week,

Aroha nui ,

Nik Chung

Ps. I love that you are becoming a Conscious Leader - you're amazing! If you are finding it hard to make changes and stick to them, all on your own, I'd love to help with my coaching and mentorship programs that are tailored for you. Email me on nicola@nikchung.com or DM me on LinkedIn, and let's see what's on your mind.