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At work or in your personal life, if you want something you’ve never had, you need to do something you’ve never done. That’s obvious, right? Conceptually, yes, but manifesting the change you want can feel complicated and daunting.

鈥淵ou need to get your swagger back.鈥� Those words came from a coaching client’s boss. My client was in a job that did not feed his professional mojo. He grew restless. His boss noticed. In their one-on-one meeting, his boss shared his observations of the lack of enthusiasm and its impact. The honest, caring feedback resonated with my client so powerfully that he recognized the job no longer was a good fit. He wanted to move through the workday with more purpose and confidence. He wanted his swagger back.

When we feel stressed, we tend to pull back and play small. We slip into what is familiar and comfortable. We may also attempt to exert more control. If we feel bored, uninspired, or burned out, we might surrender to going through the motions, a complacency that stifles our creative spark. If we stay in the struggle for too long, inertia sets in. We get stuck, and we lose our swagger.

If we want change, we need to break old patterns. The best place to start is by taking risks that embolden you. Those risks do not necessarily have to be big. If they challenge us to push against our internal resistance to take even the smallest of actions, it can lead to breakthroughs.

A simple example: asking for help. I recently reached out to a colleague to ask for assistance in promoting a client’s survey. He immediately tapped into his vast network and next thing you know, I’ve been introduced to some savvy professionals who wholeheartedly offered to support my endeavor.

When we channel our energy into a curious exploration of new ideas and experiences, we are in a better position to say yes to an inspired call to action. 鈥淲hatever you can do or dream you can do, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it,鈥� Johann Wolfgang von Goethe reportedly said.

Boldness as a way of being builds tremendous resiliency. When we step into bold action, we are inviting a nimbleness and fluidness that honors the dynamic world in which we live. It also is a testament to trusting that we can handle what we put in motion. When we choose to be bold rather than complacent, we create a sense of agency. This is a place of possibility. Boldness sparks an aliveness that catapults change.

Organizations have their own kind of vibe that either positions them to resiliently navigate change or become bastions of operating the way they always have. The longer an organization maintains the status quo, the harder it becomes to embrace doing things differently.

Organizational cultures are meant to be evolving ecosystems. Yet, when organizations grow, they often fail to change how they operate. Roles and responsibilities have not been revisited, workflows and tools have not been standardized, and execution is stymied.

When launching work with new clients, I often walk teams through an exercise that captures their 鈥渃urrent state鈥� and 鈥渇uture state.鈥� When we name what is happening in the current state, we inevitably find patterns that highlight organizational struggles. The intent is to bring transparency and clarity to the current reality, and then juxtapose it against what is desired. The gap between the two defines the change you want to create. It shapes the goals you set, the initiatives you define, and the steps you need to take.

I recently read a LinkedIn post about conducting 鈥渞andom acts of boldness.鈥� The idea is that the more you exercise that muscle, the more you grow your confidence. When you connect targeted acts of boldness to your vision, you begin actively seeking out opportunities that bring big payoffs.

We are held back by our fears of looking foolish or failing. As we let go of our concern of judgment, we are liberated to try new things. This makes us less resistant to change and more comfortable with the unknown.

Most of us have experienced the satisfaction from excelling at a challenging task. The reward feels inherently greater when we are required to dig a little deeper and risk a little more.

What is bold for you?

Boldness is subjective. What might be a stretch for one person is not for another. For example, this morning I was at the gym and saw a machine I didn’t know how to use. I was tempted to skip it and work out with the usual equipment. I caught myself in the 鈥渁voidance trap.鈥� I decided to give it a try. Turns out, it’s a great machine for exactly what I needed!

Where to start? Notice where and when you are resistant. Pay attention to the patterns that keep you playing small. What kind of future state do you want for your professional trajectory? What kind of change do you wish to see in your organization? Move in the direction!

Take the K Challenge:

How will you be bold?

• Decide and do
• Try something new
• Talk to someone you don’t know
• Do something that you don’t know how to do
• Do something that might make you feel foolish
• Say what you mean
• Ask for what you want
• Model the behavior you want in others
• Be authentic
• Take the next small step

Being bold is not easy. But if you heed its call, you might find being bold brings just the right kind of swagger to stoke your professional mojo and be the change you want to see. (Thanks, Gandhi.) Being a change agent simply means you are willing to take steps in the direction of that which feels scary for the sake of what is on the other side. 鈥淐hange is inevitable. Growth is optional. Choose wisely.鈥�

What bold action will you take today?

Karen Natzel is a business therapist who helps leaders create healthy, vibrant and high-performing organizations. Contact her at 503-806-4361 or [email protected].

The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed in the preceding commentary are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Daily Journal of Commerce or its editors. Neither the author nor the 91视频 guarantees the accuracy or completeness of any information published herein.