Thinking Differently

Like many of you I am a creature of habit. The patterns that permeate my thinking and influence my actions run silently in the background like the operating system controlling the keystrokes on my laptop computer while I prepare this blog for posting. My life is well served by these deeply engrained thought habits in most cases because they help me to sort through the clutter and chaos of my world and provide efficient ways to get things done.

For example, how I get dressed in the morning is the result of a thought pattern that has been tested and refined over the years. Whether my socks go on before my pants may not seem like a big deal but all of us have found resourceful ways to master the mundane tasks associated with getting dressed – patterns that work for us and that we do without much thought. These patterns are present in dozens of our activities at home and work. Without a pre-determined approach to the routine tasks of life we would lose precious time and likely face frustration as we go about our work.

Leaders sometimes fail to understand the impact that thought patterns have on their organizations, especially when faced with the need to change a process or deal with a pressing issue. It is difficult for most of us to embrace new ways of looking at old problems or to challenge the assumptions that drive our behaviors. Rather than dig deeply to find innovative ideas we often gravitate toward the solutions that seem familiar or require less risk. How many truly breakthrough concepts have never made it to market because we stopped searching when our thinking was pushed beyond our comfort zone?

Innovative thinking requires more than just a creative approach to problem solving. Many times the changes we seek never happen because our assessment of the problem is limited or focused on a symptom of a bigger issue. In our rush to relieve anxiety the real concern remains buried in the shadows of quick fixes and familiar patterns of thinking. It is hard to admit that the ridiculous, the silly, or the outrageous may harbor the next great idea. Vetting these takes more time and energy than most of us want to expend.

So we settle. Settle for less than stellar performance, productivity, ingenuity, and creativity. We embrace our familiar patterns of thought and behavior because it is easier, cheaper, and comfortable. Our organizations, processes, products, and services remain good but not excellent. The people we serve are forced to lower their expectations or find another vendor willing to offer something that is truly different.

On a trip to Atlanta this week, I watched a familiar pattern of thinking control the process for loading an airplane. Dozens of passengers, many with carry-on bags so they don’t need to pay extra fees, were boarded based on first-class versus coach, preferred mileage versus the rest, and by zones versus from back to front of the plane. Each time I experience this same stale and inefficient method for handling people I wonder why only Southwest Airlines has been willing to transform the boarding experience. Pattern thinking is the likely answer.

If you are looking for competitive advantages in a down economy you can resort to pattern thinking by laying off workers, closing production facilities, and trimming budgets. Or you can break those patterns by thinking differently through engaging in a search for innovative ideas and transformative processes. Leadership is more than managing efficiently; it is also about leading effectively. Being willing to think in new and different ways is one opportunity to do this. Maybe it’s time to put your socks on last, or not wear any at all.