A common problem for companies is that they think that no one else has ever faced their challenges. These problems inevitably lead to a drop in productivity, wasted time, and burnt out employees.
To Clear the Path of this unproductive thinking, let’s take some inspiration from obstacle courses.
A funny thing happens when people run an obstacle course and you see it all the time on TV shows like Wipeout and American Ninja Warrior. As you watch the first contestants, it seems impossible that anyone can make it through the course. Everyone just struggles and fails.
Eventually someone figures it out and finishes. Then you think that his or her time can’t be beat. But before long it’s easily surpassed and the success rate for subsequent competitors goes up.
Those who compete later had the chance to learn from those who came before. They watched what did and didn’t work and made adjustments to their strategies.
There was a time when it was thought that running a mile in less than four minutes was either impossible or would kill the runner. But on May 6, 1954 an Englishman named, Roger Bannister, did it in 3:59. Less than two months later, his record was broken by a rival.
Today, top athletes are expected to run a mile in less than 4 minutes. Bannister was a trailblazer, just as those who run the obstacle course early on.
Back on the job, it’s arrogance to think that no one else has ever faced your workplace challenges. Worse yet are those who refuse to get help from those who have come before. In today’s global, competitive economy, inaction does not equal survival.
If your organization is struggling with a problem, don’t deny it, try to find a scapegoat, or argue that you’re not going to change the way you do business. There’s a world of resources out there. You just need to be smart enough to use them.
