Netflix & resistance chill: 3 ways resistance erodes your leadership resilience and agility

THE ART & SCIENCE OF LEADING SELF
When Resistance Meets Uncertainty

My friend, last week we explored the power of silence in shaping your leadership mindset.

Remember our ongoing exploration of M = f(m)? That's right, Mindset work is a function of Mindfulness. Today, we're diving into how this concept plays out in the choppy waters of uncertainty.

Let's face it: uncertainty is the only certainty in business today.

Whether you're a startup founder, a Fortune 500 CEO, or someone just trying to make it through every day, you confront uncertainty every day.

When you take a few steps back you may realize you are facing a perfect storm of:

1. Geopolitical upheaval 🌍

2. Disruptive technologies 💻

3. Shifting workforce dynamics 👥

We’ll stop the list here so you don’t feel overwhelmed. Bottom line: It's enough to make even the most seasoned leader's head spin. But here's the kicker: how you respond to this uncertainty can make or break your leadership journey.

🎬 Netflix and the Resistance Chill

Reed Hastings' experience at Netflix is a prime example of how resistance can impact leadership.

While the world was shifting to streaming, Hastings was initially clinging to the DVD model. But what about you? Where might resistance be showing up in your self-leadership?

What about in your leadership at work?

🧨 Resistance: The Silent Leadership Killer

My personal experience has been that when uncertainty knocks, resistance LOVES to answer the door. This knee-jerk reaction can sabotage your leadership in 3 key ways:

1. Delayed Innovation: You can't sprint into the future if you're anchored to the past.

2. Inflexibility in Business Model: In today's market, adapt or become irrelevant.

3. Cognitive Bias in Decision Making: Your mind's shortcuts can lead to long-term detours.

Let's zoom in on that second point, shall we?

⚓️ Resistance: The Root of Inflexibility

Resistance to change breeds inflexibility, which directly impacts your agility in responding to uncertainty. Let's look at how this played out for Hastings and Netflix:

• Missed Opportunities: Hastings' resistance to streaming led to inflexibility in Netflix's business model. This rigidity nearly caused them to miss the streaming revolution – a far cry from skillfully managing uncertainty.

• Slow Response Time: Even after recognizing streaming's potential, Netflix's transition wasn't immediate. This delay, rooted in resistance to change, allowed competitors to catch up – demonstrating a lack of agility rather than the nimbleness needed in uncertain times.

• Stifled Innovation: Hastings' fixation on the DVD model made it hard for him to imagine streaming's potential. This resistance likely permeated the organization, potentially suppressing innovative ideas – the opposite of the forward-thinking approach required to navigate uncertainty.

How does this connect to your Mindset?

When you identify resistance within yourself, there are clear beliefs that underpin that resistance. They may not be clear to you in the moment, but with focused work, you can surface them so they are as visible to you as a physical object. I do this work with all of my clients.

Part of the work happens in our one-on-one sessions.

What makes that work possible is the mindfulness they work to cultivate outside of our sessions.

Reed Hastings’ example illustrates that even the leaders we most readily associate with innovation and organizational resilience can be susceptible to resistance that can delay innovation and lead to missed opportunities. That resistance is rooted in a backward focus rather than the resilience, flexibility, and agility needed to move forward in uncertain times. This is when you most need to turn inward.

Identifying that you are resisting is a great first step.

Now, let's conclude by turning the mirror on your leadership. How might resistance be fostering inflexibility in your approach?

Take a moment. Breathe. Now, consider:

• When was the last time you said, "That's not how we do things here"?

• Have you found yourself dismissing new ideas because they seem too risky or different from your current model?

• Do you feel a knot in your stomach when faced with significant change in your industry?

These could be signs that resistance is sneaking into your leadership style, compromising your agility. Just as Hastings had to confront his attachment to the DVD model, you might need to question your own attachments and assumptions.

Remember, in today's rapidly changing business landscape, the ability to pivot quickly isn't just an advantage – it's a necessity. Your resilience and agility as a leader can be the difference between leading the charge or being left behind.

FROM INSIGHT TO ACTION
Putting It Into Practice

🏋️‍♂️ Breaking Through: Your Agility Workout Plan

Here are 4 ways to identify and address internal resistance.

1. Mindful Moments: Start your day with a 2-minute breath focus. Notice thoughts of resistance without judgment.

2. Flexibility Reps: Challenge yourself to consider three alternative viewpoints for every major decision.

3. Agility Sprints: Set a monthly "experiment" where you intentionally try a new approach, tool, or strategy.

4. Adaptability Reflection: End each week by journaling about a challenge you faced and how you adapted.

Remember, my friend, M = f(m). Your Mindset work is a function of Mindfulness. By cultivating awareness of your own resistance, you're forging new neural pathways that support your ability to not just survive uncertainty but to skillfully navigate it.

EXCELLENCE UNBOUNDED
How I Can Help You

🚀 CEO Coaching Programs: Are you a CEO who wants to:

• Skillfully navigate uncertainty 

• Lead confidently

• Drive results

Developing greater leadership capacity in 4 key domains (Mindset, Courage, Resilience, & Innovation) will empower you to do all three.

Book time to learn about the bespoke 1:1 coaching programs I deliver. During this call, we will talk about your challenges, your goals, and how we might partner to fully “unbound your excellence.”

🎤 Speaking Engagements: My mom can attest to the fact that I LOVE to talk. 😂 Now, I put that talent to work delivering talks on Mindset, Courage, Resilience, & Innovation.

A few past clients include KraftHeinz, Amazon Women @ Payments, PAHEi, & the Panamá Chapter of the International Coaching Federation (I delivered this talk in Spanish).

If you are interested in having me speak at your event, please fill out this form.

Until next Sunday,

Shawnette