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It’s not a four-letter word, but maybe it should be. Here’s why….
If you’re a complacent person then you’re overly content and pleased with yourself. As a result, you’ve stopped paying attention to the things that matter. Blissfully unaware, you have come to ignore the real dangers in life, like your shortcomings, imperfections and flaws. Yeah, that.
You are in a rut. You are the only who doesn’t notice this.
Everyone around you is aware of your complacency and, frankly, they don’t like it one little bit; they know there’s way more to you than the way you’re showing up.
If you’re complacent, others experience you as smug, self-righteous and conceited. Please take notice that, in this version of yourself, you won’t win any popularity contests.
Complacent people:
- Don’t vote
- Don’t have anything to feel scared about
- Don’t pick up an extra project at work
- Don’t mentor others
- Don’t pick up garbage at the playground
- Don’t stay current with the news
- Don’t see anyone else’s perspective
- Don’t add value
- Don’t pay attention
- Does the bare minimum
- Don’t disrupt
- Don’t try anything new
- Don’t grow
- Don’t seek promotions
- Don’t take the initiative
- Don’t speak up
- Don’t self-reflect
- Don’t share themselves and their ideas
- Don’t advance their careers
- Don’t improve their relationships
Most people become complacent at some point in their lives. Yes, even (or maybe, especially) high potential people.
You know these people. You work with them, live with them and hang out with them. You might even be complacent yourself (Yuck, right?)
When you’re complacent you see no need for change, improvement or even self-examination.
Are you tired of feeling indifferent and complacent? Don’t know how to shake off the lethargy? Wondering what to do with all that potential of yours? In just 30 days you can get your brave on and move yourself forward in your career and life. Click this link to discover how I can help you!
Complacency isn’t laziness as much as it is self-absorption: Think: Blindspot! Things are moving along dandily in your life, so why change anything that doesn’t affect you? It’s easier to leave things alone, let sleeping dogs lie and all that.
That’s why it’s so dangerous.
When we’re complacent, we don’t take a stand for anything; we’re in neutral and we refuse to shift because, hell, we just don’t want to. Sound like a brat? Yeah, pretty much.
Yes, it really is that simple. Complacency makes us stay in our comfort zone which, inevitably, will become damn uncomfortable. But you don’t have to worry about that right now, do you?
This is What Complacency Looks Like
- The status quo
- We’ve always done it this way
- Business as usual
- It’s not my problem
- That legislation doesn’t affect me
- I can only do so much
- I don’t care
- Lack of accountability
- I like my life to be predictable
- Things are fine the way they are
- I have bigger fish to fry
- I don’t have time to consider the issue
- That’s Bob’s job
There’s another side to complacency that’s equally risky and threatening to your mental and emotional health, and that’s lethargy.
When we’re lethargic we abdicate responsibility for our lives and work. We give up. We stop caring. We surrender our power. Here’s how we do that…
We hope things will get better; that a new job will magically appear. We dream about a change in our financials, relationship or health. We wish we could start a new business, scale the one we have, or delegate the things we do horribly.
We sit still. We wait in our rut. With our head in the sand.
But nothing changes by itself. Nothing will change until you get moving.
Action is the ONLY antidote to complacency Click To Tweet
The human brain is programmed for progress, and the human spirit is highly motivated to have an impact, and make a personally meaningful difference. None of these things can occur in a complacent internal or external environment.
Complacency kills everything worthwhile in your life. Here’s a partial list of…
The Casualties of Complacency
- Engagement
- Innovation
- Creativity
- Productivity
- Absenteeism
- Presenteeism
- Ambition
- Security
- Professionalism
- Enthusiasm
- Passion
- Motivation
- Competition
- Change
- Collaboration
So what’s a complacent person to do?
The first step is to notice that you’re complacent (see list above). The next step is to, well, take a step. Make it small. Make it doable. Make it something you care about. Make it something you know, in your heart, you will succeed at accomplishing.
Remember this: You can’t steer a bicycle until you get it moving! The same goes for you and I.
____________________
- What causes you to be complacent?
- Is there a trigger for your complacency?
- How do you get out of it, and start moving again?
- Anything you want to add?
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WomenThink™ partners with leaders of public, private, and non-profit global organizations to transform their female workforce into a high-performing LeaderForce™; attracting, developing, and retaining the best female talent as a result of creating an uncommon culture of equitable empowerment.
For more than 29 years, WomenThink’s CEO, Nancy D. Solomon, has been a force for change and the go-to women’s leadership expert in traditionally male-dominated industries such as technology, banking, and finance, worldwide.
She is a bold, courageous, and unapologetic advocate for women and has helped thousands remove the barriers to their fulfillment and success.
As a result of their work with us, our clients build and sustain a vibrant, robust force of female leaders, equipped to manage the helm, and the highest offices of corporations across the globe. Our clients include Microsoft, Target, Acura, Amazon, Nordstrom, Wellpoint, and Westin and, as well as many passionate individuals.
Schedule a meeting with us to begin the conversation of how we can accelerate your current transformation initiatives, as well as identify the future of leadership for your organization.
Known as The Impact Expert, she is the main stage speaker, expert trainer, and veteran coach who helps leaders solve key issues related to leadership development, employee engagement, and advancing women. She is the author of the acclaimed book: Impact! What Every Woman Needs to Know to Go from Invisible to Invincible and is currently working on her next book.
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