I’ve written before about how I Keep My Edge by challenging myself on the ski hill. I was recently skiing when I passed this sign marking the edge of the ski area.
In business, as in life, we all face boundaries. Those edges where the rules say we need to stay inside. Whether it is to stay within the lines when coloring or to cross the street only when the light is green.
Seeing the ski area boundary made me think of several challenges about staying within the rules:
Are you sure about the rules? I’ve noticed that in other countries, lights being red or green are merely suggestions to pedestrians as to whether to cross the road or not. Are you clear on where your organization’s rules are? Or are your organizational rules fuzzy at the best of times and completely obscure the rest of the time?
Is everyone else inside the line? In some organizations, the “rule” is to challenge the rule and cross over to the other side, although there may be a protocol about under what conditions you are to do so.
Do you know the consequences? It’s okay to ski outside ski area boundaries — if you are prepared to self rescue yourself if you get in trouble. Are you clear in your own mind about what the consequences are if you break the rules? Maybe the consequences are not what you think they are.
Can you create change without breaking the rules? By definition, change requires either breaking the rules or defining new ones that are different than the old ones and encouraging and pushing people to cross the old boundaries. If the old rules were fuzzy or missing, demonstrating the new rules and pushing right up to their edge can help lead others to change.
A ski run, a sign, and an edge. They combined to challenge me to think about where I cross the line and challenge the rules. Where do you challenge yours?
