Standard job interview question: What would you say is your greatest weakness?
My standard answer: Hearing the phrase 'because that's how we've always done it'
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
Broadly speaking people are creatures of habit and this translates to the workplace. I've seen unease in faces when hot desk policies have been introduced for fear of the unknown and a change to the norm. I've heard mutterings when a last-minute company meeting is requested impacting on peoples plans for the day. But worst of all is the look in someone's eyes when you ask them to do something different in their routine to what they're used to.
This blog is not to advocate change for the sake of it, but it is one of my pet peeve's when change isn't considered where there is the opportunity for improvement, modernisation or improved efficiency within a business.
There is always a great opportunity in the workplace. Not every business can be first past the post on every innovation, but every business should be open to change and development to best improve their position in the market.
A prime example of anti-change business lies within the UK press. It is widely known that the decline in newspapers and magazines is due to the increase in the availability of content for free elsewhere. However, too late to react was most of the media houses in the UK and you now see a number of smaller titles vanishing as they were not willing to change how they work to open themselves to their audience in a new way. Indeed publishers in general still haven't struck gold on a full solution to their dilemma. Some have put up paywalls, some put up advertising costs, some plastering their websites with so many ads and clickbait pieces it's nearly impossible to find and read the original article you were seeking. All because of an inability to adapt and push back on the phrase 'well that's how we've always done it'.
Things change, be flexible, be open to ideas and act.
To quote Sheryl Crow, 'A change will do you good'
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