Can you Paradigm?

A paradigm shift is defined as one of the most profound changes in your business frame of reference. The shift comes when there is a breakthrough in thinking that drastically changes the way you do business forever. The best example of a paradigm shift that changed the world forever occurred in 1981 when IBM introduced the personal computer. At that time, software was simply an afterthought—it followed the hardware. Because IBM operated from a computer manufacturing paradigm, company strategists could not see the true shift that was about to occur with the operating software.  So IBM licensed the software from a small company called Microsoft®...and the rest is history. Could that type of paradigm shift happen today? Absolutely! The real question is can your organization handle it or will your customers create the paradigm shift for you?

According to our quote of the month by Charles Darwin, only those who can adapt to change will survive. What are you doing to get your company ready to adapt to change? Does your organization run from change or embrace it? 
 
The key to creating an innovative, change-oriented organization is to embrace it and even have fun with it. You can't mandate change. Slogans like “Shift happens” and “Can you paradigm” have been adopted by organization as a way to get creative juices flowing. Create your own “Shift happens” list in your break room or at your next meeting. Ask yourself and your employees what could happen that would fundamentally change the way you do business. Think in both terms of opportunities and threats. Write your ideas down and brainstorm ways to adapt.

Not all change is a true paradigm shift; however, incremental changes can lead to breakthrough thinking and the next Fortune 500 Company is born! Will that company be yours?