Paradigm: Provides us a language, a common set of assumptions, and a common set of expectations of what may occur in the future.
Joel Barker – Author
COVID is a paradigm buster. Paradigms are rules. Let’s look at the word a little closer. The root of paradigm comes from the Greek and means a pattern, model, or rule. A paradigm is the way or pattern you perceive your world. It can mean a world of difference. Fish perceive their world through water. People perceive their world through air. People perceive their value and principles through work. Current work, business, and personal paradigms have shifted in unexpected and radical ways.
Paradigm shifts foreshadow larger changes in work rules. What was the right thing to do before may now be wrong? What was the pathway to career success may now be different. What was expressly acceptable may now be forbidden workplace behavior. These shifts are difficult for people who were hired, taught, recognized, promoted, and reinforced for a set of behaviors and skills that are now either unacceptable or have radically changed.
New paradigms destroy the existing rules and create a new order or set of rules. Today’s killer idea is tomorrow’s has been. The old idea, principle, process, system, belief, app, or product is trashed because it’s too difficult to implement, it costs too much to implement, or people don’t understand During COVID, your perception of success and confidence of who you are, what you do, and how you work may change.
The buggy whip industry totally disappeared along with carriages as the automobile became the favored method for moving people. Autonomous vehicles (robot driven) in 5 to 10 years may do the same for driven vehicles. Who knows what COVID will disrupt?
Work Lesson Earned: What paradigms do you think will shift in COVID time? Start understanding the paradigms that affect your company, clients, and work. If you want to stay employed, know what drives your company or client and know what keeps executives up at night in COVID time. I’m surprised how many workers and contractors don’t know their company’s or client’s business models. I ask in our workshops: ‘Who knows your company’s business model’? I’m usually shocked. About 10% do. Not good!