Leadership Development
In our last issue, we explored the illusions of data and why a green dashboard does not always mean a healthy team. This week, I want to talk about a different kind of challenge. It is the friction we feel when we intentionally choose a new path and realize that our old habits and systems no longer support the direction we are heading.
Glimmer of Inspiration ✨
Over the past long weekend, my family took our first road trip in a fully electric vehicle. We have done this four-hour trip countless times over the years and we knew exactly where to stop for gas and where to eat. We were used to the convenience of parking the car at the hotel and forgetting about it until the morning.
This time, the trip required a new level of intentionality. We had to identify charging stations along the route and coordinate our stops. When we arrived at the hotel, there were only two chargers for the entire building and we had to move the car once it was charged to make room for others.
These were small changes, yet they made a familiar journey feel uncomfortable and far more ambiguous than we were used to.
Lightbulb Moment 💡
This experience reminded me of the Crossing the Chasm framework by Geoffrey Moore. In the world of technology and leadership, the chasm is that difficult gap between the early adopters who love new gadgets and the early majority who need the technology to actually work in a reliable way.
As we navigated our trip, I realized we were living in that chasm. The car itself was ready, but the infrastructure around it was still catching up. This is exactly what is happening with AI in many organizations today. We are trying to introduce transformative tools into systems built for a different era.
Our approach to change depends entirely on where we sit on that curve.
If we act like innovators, we focus only on the cool features of the tool. However, to lead a team across the chasm, we have to act like pragmatists. We have to stop looking for AI gas stations and start building the new infrastructure of habits, training, and support that makes the new way feel as reliable as the old one.
Shine Brighter: Your Growth Challenge 🚀
During this trip, we realized the discomfort was not a sign of a bad choice. It was simply the reality of being an early adopter in a world still catching up.
Successful change management is rarely about the technology itself and it is almost always about managing the human transition from the familiar to the functional.
When we ask our teams to adopt AI or a new process, we are essentially asking them to give up the safety of their old gas stations.
This week, I invite you to conduct a Transition Audit by simply observing the current movement of your project through three specific lenses.
Start by identifying the Legacy Habit. Look for where your team is still mentally searching for a gas station, those old ways of working that feel safe but are no longer efficient in this new landscape.
Once you see the habit, look at the New Infrastructure you have provided. It is worth asking if you have truly installed the charging stations they need, such as dedicated training time and the explicit permission to be slower while they learn the new rhythm.
Finally, your most important task is to Normalize the Discomfort. In your next meeting, try explicitly stating that the ambiguity they feel is a natural part of crossing the chasm and not a sign of failure.
Leadership is about holding the vision of the destination while being patient with the logistics of the journey.
A Final Spark ✨
We did not move to an electric car because it was the easiest choice for a road trip today. We moved because, for us, it was the right choice for the future. The same is true for the changes you are leading. Finding your new norm requires the courage to be uncomfortable until the new infrastructure is built.
How are you helping your team cross the chasm this month?
I would love to hear about it in the comments.
Here’s to finding your spark—and letting it shine.
Karen