We’re told by our bosses that it’s important to be on our toes against the competition. But probably the most important thing to tussle with is our mind, which distracts, deludes, divides and deters. Habits prevent us from advancing. Mental models – things we know to be true but aren’t – can be killers.
I’m stepping on to dangerous territory, therefore, by starting this excursion into wrong-headed notions with a law – a certainty, proposed by consultant Alberto Savoia, former director of innovation at Google. In his book, he offers the law of market failure: When new products are brought to market, failure is the rule, not the exception.
We fret these days about disruption caused by technology. But Harvard University professor Thales Teixeira that’s wrong. Disruption starts with unhappy customers, not technology, he stresses in Harvard Business Review. So don’t rush to acquire the disruptive technology. Instead, focus on satisfying changing customer needs and wants.We used to believe it was vital that people address their weaknesses to advance. Then the strengths movement came along, and now the passion is for enhancing strong points.
For things that come easy, we lean in and do more, viewing others less competent than us as subpar, holding unrealistic expectations for them and not taking sufficient time to teach. As for the skills you find more challenging, Ms. Nellen says that, like any default setting it can be changed, with mindfulness, practice and new habits.