Archive for risk
Running toward the Twisters: Overcoming Risk Aversion
Posted by: | CommentsAfter a few months of kindergarten-esque reflection, I have decided what I want to be when I grow up: a storm chaser.
There is something stupidly appealing about the idea of jumping in an RV and chasing down a natural disaster. I find it telling that storm chasing is still an occupation I want to undertake even after watching Bill Paxton and Helen Hunt track twisters in the most horrible acting job until Twilight. Tornadoes, hail storms, hurricanes, you name it, I want to be hunting the debris. If there are storms enough to give the Discovery Channel sufficient fodder for four seasons of Storm Chasers, then there’s obviously enough to keep me busy for a while. I’d like to think grappling with my own mortality on a daily basis will be beneficial to me in the long term.
It’ll be hard to break my career aspirations to my family and friends, I’m sure. My parents have always pushed me to find a stable job, so telling them that I chose “professional storm chasing” might have them wondering if they should’ve taken the money they invested in my college education and instead invested it in a psychiatric facility. Their touching concern for my future is overshadowed in this case by their risk aversion. When it comes down to it, though, I would rather be the chaser than the chased. The way I see it, I’m simply putting my destiny into my own hands by driving into the eye of the storm…or at least that’s what I tell myself. I think the actual reason is that it would finally give me something interesting to say during a “get to know you” exercise.
Some aversion to risk is good. There’s a reason you feel unease about jumping off of the Golden Gate Bridge…it’s because it would be a really bad idea, not to mention probably illegal. It’s that split second of decision time between fight or flight that saved our neanderthal ancestors way back when from extinction. Nowadays, however, that split second is extended so far it becomes inaction. Playing it safe is one thing, but not playing at all? A healthy amount of risk taking is actually good for an organization, and employees should be willing to embrace it.
The question is: what are the benefits of risk-taking behavior? There’s a reason we have a “flight” response, but when should we ignore it? What can we stand to gain from chasing rather than being chased?
According to Dan Borge in his aptly titled The Book of Risk, risk means exposing yourself to the possibility of a bad outcome. This in and of itself is fear-inspiring. Why would we choose to put ourselves in the line of fire if there’s a path that allows us to remain unscathed? What we stand to gain, though, makes it necessary for us to overcome our fears. Self-fulfillment, for example, is one thing for which risk taking is crucial. Risk involves the possibility of near misses, but we need near misses to be able to find the hits. Without speaking in vagaries, we need to open ourselves to enough possibilities to find out what makes us happy and fulfilled, and part of that comes from finding out what we don’t enjoy. The experience in the short term may be more detrimental than beneficial, but in establishing a sense of self we have to expose ourselves to things that may not immediately help us out.
Risk also gives us a way to be constructive about making mistakes. If we never set ourselves up to err, we won’t know how to proceed after doing so. Soccer goalies, for example, are not taught how NOT to fall, but rather how to fall in ways that won’t leave them seriously injured. Risk taking does the same thing for those who undertake the practice. In putting ourselves in a position to fall, we learn how to do it the right way. Slip-ups are transformed from roadblocks into signposts, and as fallible beings, it’s not about eliminating failure but making failure constructive. We inherently shy away from the possibility of poor results, but if we face it head on we are less likely to be hurt by them should they come along. And risk doesn’t always precipitate bad results; we can reap rewards if all goes well, and we should keep that in mind.
I don’t advocate that everyone begin tornado-hunting, but it may be in our best interest to at very least be open to the possibility of operating outside of our comfort zones. Fear is a natural reaction to risk. Overcoming that fear can bring us self fulfillment and future success. Ultimately, the short term is just that–short–and the mistakes we make then should be harnessed to garner future successes.
Even after realizing my storm chasing dreams, I think I’ll ease into it. Let me know if you hear of any extreme fog in the near future.
To our readers: what benefits do you think come from risk-taking?
Becoming a Thriller: A Leader’s Path to Success
Posted by: | CommentsThis past Friday marked the one-year anniversary of the death of one of music’s most influential artists. To dispel any doubt, I’m referring to Michael Jackson, the artist who truly embodied every hit he released; the song “Black or White,” for example, became less recognized as one of his gems and more as the token question everyone was asking themselves in the wake of his several plastic surgeries. Along with “Billie Jean” and “Bad,” “Thriller” was arguably one of the greatest hits he’d released, not just because of the song, but THE dance. It wasn’t until the Macarena that the music scene again saw a song inspire hoards of wedding crowds (and college students) to swing their arms above their head like a zombie.My roommate in Spain and I spent a good hour watching tutorial videos on YouTube trying to figure out how to perfect the blank-stared stagger, which was surprisingly well-received by the Spaniards we performed it for. MJ has international appeal.
It seems that, even with this in mind, the last thing that we would want to do as leaders would be to emulate Jackson. Despite his unarguable success, he became better known in recent years for his relative failures. Between baby-dropping, inappropriate slumber parties, and that awful video game he released for Sega, his accomplishments have been buried under a slew of screw-ups. No longer was Michael Jackson celebrated as the face of pop music; once knowledge of Neverland reached the public, the sight of his vinyl jacket all over the news replaced news of his vinyls. Like all famous artists, his posthumous memory became much fonder than the one the public had in his last few years–his album sales skyrocketed on iTunes.
The question is–is there any merit to walking the moonwalk? What can today’s leaders take away from MJ’s example? He must have done SOMETHING right to deserve the recognition. What was it? And what can we do to inspire others?
The first correct move he made (apart from the pelvic thrust) was his affinity for risk-taking. As we’ve figured out at Monar as well as in previous blog posts, people are generally change-averse, as change involves taking a risk. If leaders want to make a change within an organization, they have to be willing to take a leap toward thinking and acting in unconventional ways. Those in the box industry call it…well, they don’t really have a phrase for it, because it’s outside the realm of their thought. MJ was willing to take the risks necessary to launch his career and completely renovate the face of music in the process. Leaders must be okay with the knowledge that to achieve success, they will have to be innovative in their approaches. The “old way of doing things” is a phrase that will stagnate them.
Persistence is the second characteristic crucial to MJ’s success. Even in the face of public resistance, he continued to move forward with his ideas. Organizations that want to follow through with change need to expect push-back on the part of their employees, but not let it stop their forward momentum. Leaders need to be aware of “The Way [Change Makes Employees] Feel” while still creating and propagating new initiatives. We refer back to the idea of stickiness. It’s not enough to take a risk if you don’t follow through. Michael Jackson was committed to the risks he took, no matter how outlandish they may have been–that one glove thing, for example. An unapologetic approach to change is what is inspiring and impactful, and if leaders want to “make that change,” they’re going to have to start with the “Man in the Mirror.”
There will always be debate about whether the moral implications of Jackson’s actions make his musical contributions obsolete. But one thing is not debatable–he was a successful musician, and he transformed the musical landscape of his time. (I’m almost out of euphemisms for that phrase, so it may be about time to draw this to a close.) Through his risk taking and his persistence, MJ made an impact. Leaders would do well to follow (most) of his example.
As for mine and my roommate’s “thrilling” performance…call me over-confident, but I think it can thrill you more than any ghost would dare try.
To our readers–what do you think are keys to successful change?
