“I wanted to change the world, and then I realized I had to change myself first.” I often remind people who come to my organization and dislike our way of doing things, that they must adapt — not us. It is easy to criticize and question our methodology and systems. They must adapt, learn, go with the flow. We must be willing to change when their way is better.
Keeping an open mind is the first sign of common sense and emotional intelligence. Life is not black or white. It plays out in multiple shades of grey.
“At our old school, we did it this way,” was a comment from one of my teachers, no longer on my team. The fact is that our way works for us. We have used “our way” effectively for 15 years. When we find that we keep battling about the same issues, then the choice becomes clear: it’s our way or the highway.
About Rohini Rustogi