How many times in life have you heard someone say, “That’s just the way we’ve always done it”? It’s a common mentality among organizations, yet it’s a dangerous one for those that want to improve and grow. It hampers the possibility for change and prevents progress, both of which are essential for long-term success. Avoid this mindset. Start new habits around exploring possibilities and remaining open to change. Recognize when others around you are stuck in their status quo thinking and coach them to adopt a more positive outlook for change. Also, follow the lead of other great leaders who sometimes shake things up for the sole purpose of finding better ways to do what’s become “the norm.” Through such actions, you will challenge your team, spark creativity, and develop a culture that’s committed to positive change.

Give us an example of when you’ve successfully challenged the status quo with your leadership or organization.

Here are some suggestions to:

Build a culture that’s committed to positive change. In today’s world, you’ve got to challenge that status quo to stay ahead of the competition. This starts with you, leading by example, trying new approaches, welcoming fresh ideas, and maintaining a mindset that embraces change. However, that culture of change will more fully flourish if you reinforce the behaviors of those around you who are also open to change. The more you spotlight positive change-related activities and good results, the more ingrained this thinking will become in your culture. Over time, people will come to see challenging the status quo as a best practice and the new norm—a progressive mindset that will become ingrained in your company’s culture.

Spark creativity. Got a problem at work? Use the MAP Team Consulting process to challenge your people to come up with some unique answers, fresh ideas, or possible solutions. To generate enthusiasm, offer some cool rewards or exciting incentives for the best solution that gets implemented. Through your actions, you can unlock the power of your team and develop solutions to improve overall productivity.

Develop your team. Your team meetings are a good opportunity to shake things up and help develop your team. Instead of planning and leading them by yourself, challenge your staff members to take greater charge. Assign them more responsibilities and greater roles, perhaps even allowing your direct reports to take turns leading the meetings. Improve teamwork and collaboration by empowering everyone to share in this responsibility, work together more, and take ownership of the entire process and the experience itself.