The Importance of Mindset in Leadership and Business: Staying Agile

How exactly do we make sense of the world around us? In so many words, when we encounter a situation, we act according to a set of predetermined beliefs, behaviors, and assumptions. It would be fair to say that we spend much of our day speaking or meeting with people whom we know very little about, who come from a very different background than our own, and who may ultimately have a very different idea about how life should work than our own. As a result, our everyday interactions are complex and often difficult to assess. Individual motivations and intentions are simply hard to truly understand. However, while these differences make life interesting, a predetermined set of beliefs and a limited mindset can have disastrous consequences in the workplace.

It is important to remember that we don’t know everything and every situation requires a different strategy. Leaders in today’s business world should make a concerted effort to accept this reality and develop an agile mindset… 

When Hernan Cortes first arrived on the shores of Mexico in 1519, he had a very different view of the world than the Aztec civilization he encountered. Despite the overwhelming sense of awe his crew felt when first approaching the capital city of Tenochtitlan, Cortes was unfazed. After dismounting his horse in a moment of “shock and awe,” he was absolutely sure that Montezuma, the god-like Aztec leader, was ready to surrender to the will of the Spanish.

In order to speak to Montezuma, Cortes had to bring two translators. Cortes would speak to one of them in Spanish, who would then translate that into Mayan. Then, the next translator would translate that (Mayan) into Nahuatl, the native language of Montezuma. It was a complex chain of communication which made a seemingly simple face-to-face interaction incredibly difficult. Despite these challenges, Cortes believed the Aztec kingdom was his. But, he couldn’t have been more wrong… 

The Nahuatl language was reverential in nature. Essentially, when Montezuma responded to Cortes’ demands by referring to himself as a “child,” he meant the opposite. He wasn’t conceding anything. But, Cortes was from a different world and simply didn’t understand. His entire interaction with Montezuma was based upon a predetermined set of beliefs, behaviors, and attitudes.

When thinking back on our days in school, we know how the story goes. Cortes ultimately took Montezuma hostage and the two sides went to war resulting in the death of millions of people. The consequences of their miscommunication has historical implications that still impact us today.

In Malcolm Gladwell’s best-selling book Talking to Strangers, he goes into quite a bit of detail…

While the situations you may face everyday as a leader may not be as extreme as Hernan Cortes’ conquest of the Aztec empire, there are a few very important lessons to keep in mind…

• Every interaction with a client is going to be different – you can’t assume you know what they want – you also can’t assume they understand your intentions (what you want)

• A one-size-fits-all approach to business limits your ability to discover new opportunities and leverage the unique talents and skills of your team

• As a leader, humility is key – there are going to be times where you simply don’t know everything
• When communicating your goals and objectives, the message should be clear

As an international best-selling author, life strategist, and speaker, Jen Gaudet is here to help you elevate your health, life, and business. She offers a series of programs for both individuals and groups designed to help develop greater personal accountability and support, improve overall health, and enhance organizational effectiveness.

If you are interested in learning more about Jen’s services and how she can help you transform your entire life, visit the following link today.

https://jengaudetcoaching.com