How do you prevent failure? There is no guarantee, but a good way to decrease your chances of failure is to avoid becoming complacent. In this post, I discuss the importance of being chronically uneasy.
"Continuous Improvement" is something we hear of a lot.
Rightfully so, as we should always be looking to improve ourselves, learn something new, and grow.
As the saying goes: If you are the smartest person in the room, then you are in the wrong room.
But what happens when you have a streak of successes?
How do you "improve" when you already feel that you are operating at your best?
"We shall have no better conditions in the future if we are satisfied with all those which we have at present." - Thomas Edison
A quick internet search for complacency will bring back definitions such as: a feeling of smug or uncritical satisfaction with oneself or one's achievements; a feeling of quiet pleasure or security, often while unaware of some potential danger, defect, or the like; and self-satisfaction especially when accompanied by unawareness of actual dangers or deficiencies.
The true danger of complacency is believing that the way you've always done things will continue to deliver great results.
Unfortunately, this belief leads to a plateau and eventual decline in results, and noticing this decline in performance usually doesn't come until long after those previously great results are already diminishing.
So how can we avoid the complacency trap? It's called Chronic Unease.
Being chronically uneasy is about having a healthy level of skepticism, which allows you to perceive your successes as something that can be temporary if you're not constantly on the look out for, and taking action on, areas of improvement.
So here are 3 things you can do to help yourself become chronically uneasy, avoid complacency, and keep your performance levels high.
Be 'Hungry'
Never be satisfied with your results. This doesn't mean you can't take time to recognize yourself or others for a job well done. Celebrating successes is key to building on future successes, however chronic unease is about having a sense of "How can I do better?", "What do I need to do to improve?" or "How do I achieve more?".
By never being satisfied, you will remain 'hungry' and constantly searching for ways to improve. This will prevent complacency as a result of self-satisfaction, and keep you finding ways to increase performance results.
Be Thoughtful
Being thoughtful means to think critically about the standard decision making processes. Sometimes, standard responses or solutions are great for fast-tracking items that you don't want to spend a lot of time on, however this can become a habit and begin to overflow into how you make bigger and more important decisions as well.
Also, question why you are making the decision that you are. Is it because it is the absolute best choice which will yield increased results, or is it the less difficult choice?
We increase our chances for success by increasing our exposure and experience to things we have not previously done, and this also includes our decision making processes. Sometimes we must be willing to make a mistake or wrong decision in order to determine whether we are still doing things the best possible way.
"Success breeds complacency. Complacency breeds failure. Only the paranoid survive." - Andy Grove
Be Paranoid
Although I do not fully agree with the late Mr. Grove's complete statement that "Success breeds complacency. Complacency breeds failure. Only the paranoid survive.", I will agree that continued success can increase the chances of becoming complacent (success doesn't guarantee it) and that complacency absolutely breeds failure.
So there is something to be said about "...Only the paranoid survive."
Now, I don't believe that Andy Grove meant "paranoid" in the context of extreme nervousness and worry, but rather having a restless mind where there is a healthy level of suspicion and even some scepticism towards what is currently driving your success.
After all, past performance does not indicate what your future results will be.
In summary, don't wait until failure arrives to start improving, making better decisions, changing your strategy/tactics, and challenging the status quo. Adopt these mindsets above and avoid the complacency trap today.
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