First Followers

“Wow, that would be amazing for us to do. It could really change how we work together,”  concurred a group of managers at one of the biggest technology companies in the world last week.

“But it’s just not how our culture works,” someone said.

Then the grumbling about the culture began until, as the strategy facilitator, I cut the naysaying short and asked:

Why couldn’t this group start working differently and then open the way for others to follow?  Change has to start somewhere. Why not you? You view yourselves as creative and innovative.

Someone has to start, having the guts to stand alone.

And someone has to be the first to follow, also an act of leadership.

That’s how culture changes and movements start.

Dare to start or be the first follower.