Great Morning Team,
Last week we were all given the opportunity to participate in a survey to select our Top 5 Core Values. Among all 8, “Change Ready” hit home for me:
Change Ready – We thrive in change. When faced with uncertainty, we lean in—with curiosity, creativity, and courage. We see change not as a disruption but as a chance to learn, adapt, and lead. We choose progress and innovation over comfort and routine.
Regardless of whether “Change Ready” is selected in our Top 5 or not, when reading this robust definition, I couldn’t help but acknowledge the one competency that summed this all up for me: AGILITY. As we move through VUCA (Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity and Ambiguity) in our industry and in this fast-paced world, along with the emergence of AI technology; to thrive through it all, we must learn to be agile in everything we do.
“Change Ready” requires everything that is stated in this definition: curiosity, creativity, and yes, an abundance of courage. Embedded in this definition is positivity. I have found when I am in heightened moments of “forced” agility and discomfort, positivity and courage go hand in hand.
For example, thinking back to Better Together two years ago while on the planning committee, I simply ran out of time with all the last-minute details of things that had to be accomplished for the meeting, and I was left with no choice but to write the most vulnerable, difficult speech of my life using the tiny notes section of my cell phone on the airplane on the way to our meeting. Then on the fly, (literally) I sent my speech, via email, to the front desk at the hotel to print out. This was ALL completely out of my comfort zone. I like structure and order, and… laptop computers, NOT chaos. But crazy enough, I discovered this incredible exhilarating feeling when discovering I could function and even thrive in complete uncertainty when things were out of order. It felt like I had won a marathon accomplishing this task by the time I landed, and of course, finally obtaining that printout from the front desk. None of it would have been possible for me without this super-power of positivity. Time and time again, I find it fuels my courage and gives me permission to be “Change Ready”; to explore and act on what is possible, and even more so, to embrace the mindset of “Yes, we can!” Now, especially with AI, I find it enables me to do and create with even more speed and often at a moment’s notice as well. Perhaps I am becoming increasingly adaptable to chaos, thriving while “running well with scissors,” and maybe I am becoming “Change Ready,” with more courage than I ever thought possible.
In every one of our Core Values proposed, our growth mindset is the key to it all; how we CHOOSE to be, as this is what will lead to strong execution and positive outcomes. Check out this great article from Forbes Digital Magazine, “Workplace Agility Is Vital During Disruption- So What Is It Exactly?” written by Elaine Pulakos, Forbes Councils Member. (Click here for article.) Elaine describes how agility is a “Power Skill” and discusses the “6 Essential Characteristics Of Workplace Agility”, several of which live in this “Change Ready” definition and in some of our other proposed Core Values as well.
How are you becoming Change Ready? What is your super-power that helps you thrive every day? What proposed Core Value resonates with you? Share it with us in the comments below!
Wishing you all a Better We, Better Week! 😊
Lori Beth
