Posted on by vikasshirodkar

Learn, to Change

“History doesn’t repeat itself; human nature stays the same.” – Charlie Munger. There is a PJ that illustrates this mindset. A worker lost a finger while working on a circular saw. His manager went to the site to investigate the accident. “What happened?” he asked in anguish. The worker said, ” I was working on his critical job. I fed it slowly to the rotating saw machine like this, and…..Oh! No!! here goes another finger!!!” What can one say?

Not sure if the beginning quote is exactly what Munger said; I might be paraphrasing it, but this sentiment has been a game-changer for me. This is a helpful explainer about why people do what they do. People (including me) like their own ideas. People (including me) act per their own motives. People (including me) act irrationally & have their own biases. In short, people are gonna do what they’re gonna do. Rather than get frustrated with that, it’s helpful to be curious about their drivers & incentives and adjust. Alvin Toffler, the Futurologist, defined the illiterate of today not as one who cannot read write, but as one who cannot learn, unlearn & relearn. In today’s changing times, this is a survival skill. Ask Nokia, Ask Kodak. Ask PanAm. Ask Borders. Ask Toys r Us.. ..their past success did not protect them when they did not change, relegating them to folklore. If you have not learnt anything new today, check your pulse: you may be dead!!!

Remember what Darwin said oh so long ago, “It is not the strongest of the species that survives, … It is the one that is the most adaptable to change.” History is replete with skeletons of people & companies that refused to change, as noted earlier. Never gainsay the power of preparation. If you want to be excellent, you have to practice. To do the hard & sometimes boring work requires lots and lots of preparation. Which is why Archilochus reminds us ,” We don’t rise to the level of our aspirations; we fall to the level of our training.”

As a people manager & a leader I have often had to say,” I did not tell you this!! Told you to do it the other way!! Did you not understand? You never even asked a question? Or seek any clarification?? So I assumed, it was all ok. I leave the task to you & see what has happened now!!! a perverse result!! We will now spend enormous time & resource to back-track & undo what you have done so that we can get back on the right path.” Sounds familiar? Where did we go wrong? The answer lies in the preparation & practice. If as a leader you have demonstrated correctly, resolved queries & questions, helped your team see the steps correctly & the pitfalls to avoid, you will increase your chances of success! That is why Napoleon Bonaparte cautioned, ” Train hard; Fight easy!!” Our own Sam Bahadur cautioned his soldiers, “The more you sweat in peace, the less you bleed in war,”. Flawless execution is dependent on practice, preparation & alignment amongst your team. Remember the grand-old-man Aristotle’s conclusion,” We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit”.

This, by the way, is why it’s helpful to love your job – that’s the only way you’ll be able to fall in love with the practice, the routine and the humdrum. Only when you do that, you may steer clear of the situation so well described by Javed sahab’s couplet:

ये तसल्ली है कि हैं नाशाद सब,

मैं अकेला ही नहीं बर्बाद सब | (This is a consolation that everyone is cheerless & unhappy/ I am not the only one who is ruined.) Queen’s English has a saying, “Drowning with friends is a ceremony !!” But organizations are paying us for success, for being able to steer clear of the rough seas & not letting your boat or your organization sink. With the turbulence in the markets today many a organizational ship does capsize, unable to meet the buffeting waves of competition & change. But then a Smooth Sea never made Skilled Sailors. And remember, the Ship is safest in the harbor!! But it was not built to remain in the harbor. It must learn to navigate the open seas, under the captaincy of a learned sailor.

The harsh conditions of life make a person tougher & more capable. Through our experiences, we know that difficult situations often give the best lessons of life!!. To emerge as a good leader, one must be ready to face challenges & grow through adversities. They say that “Magic happens outside our comfort zone”. History is replete with examples of this. And yet…we seek to remain cocooned. We need the restlessness of Ulysses, “ To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.” Fear is par for the course. But only when we pass through Fear, we learn and grow.

To me the real challenge of leadership is to share the vision of a better tomorrow & the discomfort inherent in the present. This goes back to the classic Dannemiller Formula on how to overcome resistance to change (R). Dannemiller puts it thus : C= D*V*F>R ie Change happens when Dissatisfaction with how things are now*Vision of what is possible*First concrete steps taken towards the vision. If the product of these three factors is greater than R ( resistance) then Change occurs.

Remember if Dissatisfaction, Vision, First Steps : if any of these is zero then the product will be Zero and so Change will not happen.

Presently I am supporting a Business Unit of large engineering major with a program on Cultural Transformation….big word for Change. With a new BU head taking over the unit, he is actively championing a debate on the need for Change. He has a clear Vision of where he wants to reach & is presently busy socializing the need for change…the dissatisfaction with the present. Pulled forward by their vision and encouraging his team to take the First steps to actualize the Vision. On a war footing, we are all working together to overcome the Resistance to change. Fortunately the team is aligned to the new vision & employees are enthusiastic in buy-ing in to the new vision & walking the change path. Of course people are people, old habits die slowly, so we are facing the proverbial one step forward, one step backward; “duck walk” on the road to the vision. But as long as we consistently paint the Vision, show the Dissatisfaction for the present & take (First) concrete steps ( though baby size) we will reach the destination eventually. Change is never clean, it is messy, but as long as direction is set and support & commitment is there यह गाडी तो निकल चुकी (we are on our way) .

Let me end, by repeating the cautionary words of Joseph Campbell : “If you can see your path all the way through to the end, you’re following someone else’s path.” Seek your own, beloved fellow travelers!!!

Remember, not being able to see the end is a plus not a minus: it is helping you follow your own unique path to success. Go for it: chameleon vikas

28 Replies to “Learn, to Change”

  1. Very well written. There is so much to learn from the words “If you can see your path all the way through to the end, you’re following someone else’s path.” Seek your own !”

    Thanks for sharing.

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  2. Vikas Sir,

    Every post you share, I turn more self-reflective and wise helping me to improve further as well to work towards self actualization. I share this also with many in the circle of practising managers since those are the ones who can materially take great benefits from such inputs of wisdom while applying it in their work areas. 🙏

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Kabir

      you are more than kind

      I am glad you find the blog worth mulling over. I am particularly happy that you are sharing it FW with your friends and acquaintances. That truly heartens me. From my first blog I have tried to “look in my heart & write” That test has ensured my content is practical and action worthy. Hope you continue to read and encourage me

      Liked by 1 person

  3. Very thoughtful & with appropriate quotes & examples as usual, Sir. There is always some learning for everyone. I too do agree with some of the points mentioned by Ms Nilambari Shirodkar. It is difficult to become IT Savvy for everyone which has become a need of the hour for any transaction. One can adapt changes with respect to behavioural skills but technology??? It’s difficult.

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    1. Shruti

      thanks for your comment and your good words

      Actually if you look back our generation has had the highest no of challenges and changes

      but that has made our lives exciting and fun

      Technology is indeed a diffrent ball game

      but with the all pervasive nature of technology, we really have no choice but to learn and adapt

      Like

  4. Great one Vikas,It is comprehensive write up of change and touches on varuis aspects.
    From thought to action.
    Building the new is the focus of change , as we say in neuroscience build new connections and make it stronger then old pathways will die on its own.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks Ulka for your point

      indeed the new must be stronger than the old and then only it would take roots

      at another level before behaviour changes there buts be a buy in….thinking must precede action

      I write every month, the last one was on appraisals. As a practicing HR head I am sure you will enjoy it . do check it out

      Like

  5. Sir,

    Like your other articles, this one too is filled with knowledge and wisdom.

    I could relate what you said to family life.

    When parents bring up children, it gives them immense joy. One of the reasons for the joy is they are able to witness positive changes.

    Cut 2 – The grown up children are now looking after their ageing patents. If the parents keep pushing themselves out of their comfort zone while staying graceful, as suggested by you in your article – this would bring joy to everyone.

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  6. VSK, I am re-wording T S Eliot’s famous line in the present context. “Sensibility changes from age to age but only a great leader can alter the tradition.”

    A very thoughtful blog of yours, as always.

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    1. SD my friend

      firstly sorry for taking so long to respond

      somehow I had typed a reply and thought that it got posted. Today I realized the no of comments were an odd no and so realized I have goofed up somewhere So sorry it had to be you.

      TS Eliot was an awesome writer and most of his stuff is quote worthy. Indeed he created a tradition and broke many a mould in his day

      Thanks for reminding us of such great persons and truly apprecuite your words of encouragement

      Like

  8. Excellent post, dada! The engineer in my loved how you support the case for change with mathematical formula and graphics!

    Change is definitely the need of the hour as we are on the brink of massive changes in several aspects of life whether its climate crisis, human relevance in an AI-dominated world, remote / hybrid working preference etc.

    Adaptability is a super skill indeed. But I have found that no matter how you message it to others, you cannot really make them change (at work or personal life). Only person you can really change is yourself, and hopefully take a leaf out of your book when they see you benefit. It requires lot of patience!

    I am left wondering as to why you signed off as “Chameleon” – are you saying its good to be like the chameleon who changes its color as per the environment? If so, its a nice finish indeed! And I can vouch that you did end up buying my book online and even gave a review, despite some hiccups and your original misgivings about it 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Nilu
      many thanks for your endorsement
      on the blog, its formulaic representation and the sign off
      yes I meant chameleon as I have seen in my 69 years I have changed again and again
      and have enjoyed the journey because of that
      while in HR I used to say Roz Naya Natak
      you can never get bored as same solution does not work with others
      or even with the same person again
      so there was a continuous nautanki which kept you on your toes and alive
      That is the fun I sought to bring into the blog
      thanks for reading & commenting

      Like

  9. well said sir. Motivates anyone to begin – start taking the first step – whatever is your present situation / condition. This is quite a blog, clearly guiding a doer committed to something big and different. Thanks for sharing 🙏

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    1. Thanks sanjay
      I got feedback from may people that they were procrastinating but my blog pushed them into action
      what more certificate can a author want
      Thanks for your vote of confidence

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  10. Dear Vikas dada,

    I have to admit that this is one of your best posts yet!

    Not only does it talk about the most important skill to succeed in life : adaptability (in my humble opinion), but it also explains change as a mathematical formula – and therefore lends it gravitas.

    I am in total agreement with most of what you say here. Just one thing I will mention from my own experience as a people manager and as a parent / spouse / daughter etc. – You cannot really change anyone no matter what tactic you use. Only thing that works is if you change yourself. People around you observe how you adjust/adapt and “may” take inspiration from it. Even then, there is no guarantee that they will change 🙂 Old habits die hard, pan swabhavala nakkich aushadh asta!

    When I published my eBook, you absolutely refused to have anything to do with it and waited for the paperback. While buying it online, there was a glitch but then you were able to do it. When you read my book, I requested your review online. When you tried it the first time, it gave an error and you said you are giving up. Upon my sharing another link with you, you did type up the review online! You are definitely trying to adjust in the online world!

    As you rightly point out, the world as we know is on the brink of a drastic change. Whether it is lifestyle changes due to climate crisis, changes to the job landscape due to Artificial Intelligence disrupting several industries or even the increasing preference for remote/hybrid work model. And change is something each of us will need to embrace very soon.

    Keep writing and inspiring us! Love your self-deprecation in your posts.

    Regards,

    Nilu

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    1. Nilu
      Some how your earlier comment had gone to Trash. I was happy I could salvage it as it gives me a chance to comment on one of the points you have made in the earlier comment also.
      First Change is difficult. And it causes a lot of heartburn and pain every time
      It is said that THE ONLY PERSON who likes change is a baby in a soiled diaper

      I 100% agree that no one can change anyone else
      Change has to come from within
      In my training programs I say The Door to Change can only be opened from inside.
      बहार से कितना भी वही दरवाज़ा खटखट लो, अंदर सेही दरवाज़ा खुलेगा
      Unless the person feels the need him/herself there will be NO change
      this is true for any and every change event

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  11. देख तेरे संसार की हालत क्या हो गई भगवान
    कितना बदल गया इनसान कितना बदल गया इनसान
    सूरज न बदला चांद न बदला ना बदला रे आसमान
    कितना बदल गया इनसान कितना बदल गया इनसान
    (Kavi Pradeep in 1954 film नास्तिक)

    From Bhagavad Gita (Ch2.v13) onwards, so much has been said about “change”, “change mindset”, “change is the only constant”, blah, blah… that once again writing a blog about change is not change.

    Vikas, you need to change your mindset and write something different that has not been beaten to death by HR folks

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    1. MSP
      I am changing and I will change
      Maybe a greater intellectual like you needs to write something diffrent….which is not beaten to death
      Look FW to your seminal & original contributions

      Liked by 1 person

    1. Yogesh ji
      so true
      and to think that that famous statement was uttered by Heraclitus 500 years BC
      so that has remained the only constant from times immemorial

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  13. Great one! Much needed at both the micro and macro level in the personal and professional space. The worst mindset I see obstructing change is don’t tinker with what is not broken or what has worked in the past will work in the future!

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    1. Indeed!! Preeti I say that success can be limiting as it lulls you into a false comfort that the same process will work again. The Auto industry is at that juncture now. Since Henry Ford a car runs on 4 wheels and an IC engine with pistons. No innovation at the core level. That is why today Tesla and Google are giving GM, Ford, Toyota & Honda sleepless nights

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