Complacency, A Silent Saboteur

 

Hello Sheeba,
 
We have come to the end of January, and I know many are often motivated to begin new goals and have intentions of what they are going to do differently in the new year. However, what can also happen very quickly is that complacency can set in. It is true that at some point in life, most people hit a plateau- whether personally, professionally, or both. It is a state of self-satisfaction or contentment that leads to a lack of motivation or effort to improve or achieve goals. It can be a silent saboteur of progress, as it often goes unnoticed until it's too late. If left unaddressed, complacency can lead to stagnation.

What are some warning signs of complacency?

  • Lack of motivation or drive to achieve or improve
  • Lack of interest in learning or trying new things
  • A sense of "good enough" or "this is as good as it gets"
  • A lack of concern or caution in potentially dangerous or risky situations.

What are some strategies that might be helpful for you? 

Set specific, challenging goals: Having clear, measurable goals can help you stay motivated and avoid complacency. Many of us know the acronym (SMART= specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and time-specific), but actually writing it out and being held accountable around them can be a game changer. 

Seek out new experiences: Trying new things and stepping out of your comfort zone can help you stay engaged and avoid becoming too comfortable. Who can be that buddy that might enjoy that new experience with you? I believe that can also make a huge difference. 

Take on additional responsibilities: Taking on additional challenges or responsibilities can help you stay engaged and motivated at work or in your personal life. However, the caution is to take on responsibilities that won't leave you depleted at the end of the day. 

Surround yourself with motivated people: Being around people who are motivated and challenging can help you consider how you might want to stretch yourself beyond your comforts. 

Reflect on your progress: Regularly reviewing your progress and identifying areas where you want to grow in is valuable. 

Keep learning: Staying curious and continuing to learn new things can help you stay engaged and avoid becoming too comfortable. Even if the learning is in areas that are totally different from what you normally do on a daily basis. I believe this can often open doors to new possibilities. 

Additionally, if you are a manager or boss, it is really important to cultivate an environment that minimizes complacency in your teams. A couple of helpful tips on that are: 

  • Set clear and challenging goals for the team to work towards
  • Encourage ongoing learning and development opportunities for team members
  • Provide regular feedback and recognition for a job well done
  • Promote open communication and encourage team members to voice their ideas and concerns
  • Create a culture of accountability, where team members are held responsible for their actions
  • Mix up team members and task assignments to break routine and encourage new perspectives
  • Regularly evaluate and adjust processes and procedures to ensure they are still relevant and effective.

Studies have shown that employees who feel complacent are less likely to take initiative, less engaged in their work, and more likely to experience burnout. Additionally, managers and leaders who are complacent may struggle to effectively lead their teams or adapt to changing business conditions. And one thing that we know for sure is that our businesses and organizations are in a constant flux of change. So, It is important for managers to be aware of the signs of complacency within themselves AND take steps to address it within their teams. 

 

 
Inspiring You To Thrive, 
 

 INSPIRATION: 

 

LEADERSHIP SPOTLIGHT: Grant Carson

 A Scotland man who spent 27 years of his life taking care of disabled people and helping them find homes to live in, had quite the surprise when someone knocked on his door saying he won a contest to win a $2.5 million country house in a raffle.

The house is 5 bedrooms and it sits on 8 acres in one of the most beautiful places in Glasgow. 

58-year-old widower, Grant Carson spent his life being a leader in the community by helping those who were disabled. He worked at a charity in Glasgow. 

“I’ve just left my old job helping disabled people across Glasgow, which I had done for 27 years, but this win has given me a financial security I’d never dreamed of, which means I can focus on my new venture helping organizations to meet the needs of disabled customers with a lot less pressure.”

Read more about his incredible story here.  

 LEADERSHIP RESOURCE: Notion

When feeling complacent, it can be easy to become unmotivated and slack off at work. This website and app, called "Notion" will get you (and your team, if needed) completely organized and has so many helpful resources. You can create a task list, organize and take notes, and have a workspace for you and your entire team! You can build a customized workflow that works for your team! The app and website let you easily drag and drop to create a dashboard, website, document, or any system you need. 

There is a free version you can use as an individual, or you can pay for one of the packages for your entire team! You can read more about this resource HERE!

 

Sheeba Varghese is a strategic partner for your talent development solutions and the author of Confidence, Clarity & Ease: A Guide For Emerging Leaders To Thrive. Her passion is to inspire and equip men and women to lead with excellence and authenticity within the spheres of influences that they are called to impact in life. The spheres may be in a home, on a team, in a classroom, among partners in a firm, or within management, to name a few.

Sheeba works with: 

Senior Leaders and professionals who want to develop stronger leadership skills, have an impact, and move forward in their careers

Teams who want to work cohesively within their organizations

Coaches who want to renew or apply for certification with ICF

If you want to improve your leadership skills, transition from managing to leading, ensure your team is amazingly successful, increase your own self-awareness and progress your career, or you aspire to be a masterful coach for your clients, then Sheeba would love to support you. She works with clients globally, both face-to-face, phone or by Zoom.

In her time apart from clients, Sheeba enjoys time with her husband, Santosh, and their 2 sons, Sam and Steven. She loves great movies, a good book, decorating and dining at the wonderful restaurants in the Bay Area.

 

Tel: 650-741-6545