Rethink Disruption
Forbes recently published an article highlighting the women on their 50 over 50 list and I loved the title: “The Age of Disruption.” Not only because both women and the age of 50 are being celebrated but because disruption is often seen as a negative, yet in this article it’s viewed as a positive. Further down the article, Forbes explained their four categories, one of which focused on innovators, describing them as “disruptors breaking new technological ground.” And it struck a chord with me (your weekly leadership content writer) because breaking new ground in life and business can be really hard—and really rewarding.
We’ve all had disruptors. They take many shapes and cause varying degrees of impact. And they may seem just plain awful at first. And they may be just plain awful. But that doesn’t mean that good can’t come from them.
So what does it take to begin rethinking disruptors, problems, pain? What does it take to become a leader of positive disruption? What does it take to break new ground in life and leadership?
Well, at Building Champions, we say that our beliefs come before our behaviors, meaning that our thinking, feeling and believing impacts our actions. So what if we viewed disruption as a positive? How would our mindset shift? What might become possible for us?
That’s not to say that disruption doesn’t have its moment. If the disruption is tragic in nature, then of course, there needs to be space for grief and healing. But with any life-altering (or business altering) disruption, there comes opportunity. It might be hidden behind a layer of fog, but it’s there. And the fog will eventually clear. It always does.
So how do we begin seeing the good in disruptors? How do we become unafraid of disruption and instead embrace it? Well, you’ve got to lead it, not let it lead you. And I have three recommendations for you to practice to begin viewing disruption as positive.
How to Rethink Disruption
Define disruption. The word itself means “a break or interruption in the normal course or continuation of some activity, process, etc.” That definition doesn’t necessarily denote positivity, but that all depends on how you interpret it. A break could very well be permission to rest. And an interruption could be the inciting incident leading you toward a new and exciting path. Plus, how long would you want to continue the normal course of an activity or process? What if, in doing so, you’re missing an opportunity for advancement or efficiency? A disruption could be the event that sparks a new idea or new way of doing business. Or it could launch you toward a new stage of life, one that you might not have ventured down otherwise.
Reflect on your own disruptors. We’ve all experienced them. They occur in both business and life. So what have your disruptors been? Is one stuck in your mind as that big, horrible, life-altering event that wrecked everything? And if you stop and think about it, can you find anything redeemable about it? What surfaced from the wreckage? What did you learn? How can you take what you learned and help others? Can you rewrite the narrative in your mind that casts the entire event as irredeemable? Can you find some good? Can you be the good? (An example of a disruptor might be: a job loss, an unexpected move, a financial crash, an injury, etc.)
Lead yourself in the next disruption. Interruptions are a part of life and leadership. So, how can you prepare yourself now to lead yourself through the next unexpected disruption? Can you leave margin in your calendar to allow for inevitable interruptions? Can you face them head on and expect good to come? Can you inspire those you lead to see the good too? How might you change the words you use when describing the situation? Can you assess your own emotional state before reacting? Who on your team or in your life could act as a sounding board for you as you tackle the disruptor?
So the next time your process or routine is interrupted, be curious. Expect good. Don’t be afraid of hard. And seize the opportunity to break new ground! And dare I say, become a positive disruptor.
If you’re a female leader and would like to learn more about how our dynamic team of female Executive Coaches work with women leaders then check out our Women in Leadership offering. We love to walk alongside women leaders as they improve their decision-making, increase their influence and achieve their goals.
