Career Coach: Change Your Thoughts, See Results

On Monday and Wednesday, we looked at the first two keys to individual or organizational change. Today we will look at the third key: “We have to actually think differently – and we have to do something different.” That might seem easy, but if it were, it would be commonplace – and it’s not. Why? Because we – as individuals or organizations – are creatures of habit and comfort, both of which protect the status quo. 

The bottom line is if we want something to change, we have to: 

Change how we think. Albert Einstein was right when he said, “We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.” If we keep thinking of leadership as being something that comes from the top of the corporate ladder, we’ll continue to miss out on the genius and passion that is within everyone. If we keep thinking we need more money to be happier, we’ll go after what makes us more money while ignoring our ability to be happier now. 

Change what we do. Einstein was right again when he said, “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” We all want to be fit and healthy, have jobs we love, enjoy close relationships, and be happier. Companies want top talent, larger sales, and higher profit margins. We can have all of these things – but only if we change what we’ve been doing to get them. We cannot stick to our normal routines and expect these gifts to present themselves to us. 

Remember, the third key to change is “We have to actually think differently – and we have to do something different.” Something has to change to create change – and that something always involves altering our thinking and our behaviors. 

–Alan Allard, Career Coach