“The manager accepts the status quo; the leader challenges it.”

Warren Bennis

“That’s the way we have always done it” is a sentiment that makes my skin crawl. There can be lots of good reasons for doing something a certain way, but just because you have always done it that way isn’t one of them.

Embrace an attitude of “extreme discontent with the status quo.” Everything can be improved upon or made better, but only if you are actively looking for a reason to do so. If you have a perspective of “extreme discontent” then you are constantly and continually seeking improvement. Only then do you get to solve the more important leadership question, should you change something…