It's something I've been asking myself regularly lately. What's the difference between pre-corona and what's to come? From which mindset do you view the world and your company? In any case, the planet looks a bit happier with this immense decrease in environmental pollution…
Everything is suddenly different, but we don't know exactly what 'the new normal' will mean yet. We do know that organizations must take action for the new world that will arise after COVID-19, because fixed rules, agreements and dependencies have suddenly been shaken up. That means letting go of fixed thinking patterns, being forced to look at the existing business model, and mapping out opportunities and threats. But it also means acting directly.
What is needed for the new normal?
If a company is currently in dire straits, a fixed mindset will probably not help. With a fixed and wait-and-see mindset, you look for guidance on what you already know, so that it stands in the way of innovation. However, you can no longer rely on the results from the past, because the starting points have changed due to the corona crisis. That is why an 'open mindset' has everything to do with the new normal. In recent years a lot has been written and trained on the growth mindset, also known as the WOW brain. Here it is assumed that the fixed mindset, also called the OWW brain, is a thing of the past.
“If you wait for the old and trusted bus to start driving again, you will miss the trip”
What does a growth mindset and a WOW brain mean?
With a growth mindset you live based on the conviction that you can further develop competencies and qualities or that you can learn these yourself. By practicing enough, making mistakes and learning from them, you always get one step further. Feedback and constructive criticism are crucial factors here to progress in your development, as well as self-confidence. This includes taking responsibility and daring to think differently. This can be seen in the following examples:
Working from home, own responsibility
People experience that forced working from home offers both opportunities and challenges. Great initiatives arise and it often turns out that employees themselves come up with innovative solutions to make the best of this situation. All they need is that these initiatives are heard, seen and facilitated. In most cases, the responsibility for working (continuing) is taken by oneself and there will have been managers who were unjustly concerned, because they thought and acted from a 'fixed' management.
Examples of thinking differently, a different mindset
In the old normal there was a car company that supplied lease cars, in the new normal the same company is a partner in sustainable mobility solutions. An ICT organization supplied office applications at the beginning of this year, now they have become experts in working from home. Previously there were only revenues from the restaurant, now the risk is spread through takeaway meals and a well-functioning delivery service. A museum could no longer be visited and had no income, until someone with a different growth mindset and it online home museum invented. Car rental companies saw less of their cars on the road. Except Heart, because it offers rental cars to people in care for free. Isn't all this resilience amazing?
“Are you aware of the mindset from which you deal with this crisis?”
Acting directly with the YOWYO brain
Seeing opportunities and being open to new ideas is not enough. An extra step is needed; take immediate ownership and take action, especially now that everything is suddenly different. For this you have the YOWYO! brain needed. YOWYO! stands for 'You Own What You Observe!'
With this mindset you are always in control and you pick things up immediately, even when there are uncertainties. It's an endless game what we call entrepreneurship.
Do you want to seize opportunities based on insight into your mindset?
We are happy to take on that challenge with you and immediately teach you how to act from a YOWYO! brain.
