I Wasn’t Sure this was Possible
September 19, 2024 | By David M. Wagner
This Saturday, I will do something crazy:
I will ride my bicycle 100 miles. In one day.
“Crazy” because I’ll intentionally subject myself to about 7 or 8 hours in an uncomfortable seat.
And “crazy” because, until recently, the longest I had ever ridden a bike was around 40 miles. And that ride just about wrecked me.
Creeping Change
Preparing for this ride has taught me several things, like eliminating the word “should” from my vocabulary and embracing the importance of rest – not just physically, but mentally and emotionally as well.
Probably the most important thing that training for this ride has taught me is this:
Transformation often comes through imperceptible changes over time.
Driving change is an essential task, and often the hardest part, of leadership – in part because change can be hard to see happening.
Here is my advice for when you feel your resolve waning.
Commit to the Process
If you’ve made a realistic plan for bringing about change, trust that your plan will get you there.
It can be discouraging when you don’t see progress right away. Or harder still, when it feels like things are getting worse.
There were times this summer when it felt like my training was going backwards. My form deteriorated. My times got longer. My body felt weaker.
And yet, I recently completed an 87-mile training ride. So the process was working, even when it didn’t feel like it.
It’s so hard to see change when it’s happening. Because in real time, sometimes the situation really does get worse.
Only for you (or your team) to emerge stronger on the other side.
Measure what Matters
It is tempting to obsess over data that is easy to measure. But those may not be the metrics that matter.
I was discouraged that I stopped losing weight early on in my training program. My weight was easier to measure than what really mattered: my speed and my endurance.
And both continued to improve!
Don’t abandon your plans when less-important numbers start trending the “wrong” direction. Focus on the big picture and change course only when your long-term outcomes point to a need for adjustment.
Celebrate Progress
Once your plans have been in place for a while, step back and take stock of what has improved.
You may not yet be where you’d like to be, or even where you planned to be at this point.
But chances are, you’ve already come a long way. Acknowledge the growth. Celebrate it! And use it as motivation to continue the long journey ahead.
It can be difficult to see transformation while it’s happening – especially when you’re the one leading the charge. Trust in your plans, ignore distracting data, and occasionally step back to appreciate how far you’ve come. You’ve got this!
When you need an external perspective or assistance with planning big changes, set a free consult with me to discuss how leadership coaching or strategy consulting can help.