Change is the nature of life, the workplace, and broader global dynamics. The COVID-19 pandemic revealed and accelerated widespread trends in culture and politics, dynamics that were already present in society.

Reflecting over the last year, there have been too many examples of how the recent crisis provided new opportunities—the more disruptive the crisis, the greater the opportunities. Whether your purpose involves developing new products, launching new services, or exploring new strategies, dealing with change is inevitable. When embraced, change creates new possibilities. It opens the doors to growth and unanticipated gains. Often, change is uncomfortable but you can revel in the discomfort and use it to fuel your growth. Success or the feeling associated with “winning” is a result of stretching outside your comfort zone to the unknown, unproven, and uncharted. It requires an unwillingness to settle for the way things are and to constantly challenge yourself and those around you to take part, enable, and inspire change. The most important principle behind the Corporate Athlete is to build a community of global leaders that will continue to advance research, share stories, and amplify a growing dialogue on how individuals and businesses are redefining success to create sustainable value.

The success of any change comes down to your ability as a Corporate Athlete to inspire others with your vision of “disruption” and to get people motivated about the future, engaging them to become a part of the transformation. Take any industry, be it technology, education, biotech, or environment, and fast-forward ten years—even if you are not there yet, the products underlying consumer behaviour and the market now rests on the 2030 point on the trendline, positive or negative. When change is framed as an opportunity to create a new possibility in a particular field, it leads to an exciting outcome. Within the realm of moderation, people become less resistant to supporting a disruptive idea, less fearful of uncertainty. The key to effective change is to clearly express the potential payoff or reward for everyone.

Most people do not change their behaviours but prefer to stay within their comfort zone and avoid unnecessary change. Old patterns and ways of thinking can keep people stuck in the status quo. A commitment to the way it used to be, how the world used to do it, and how it has worked in the past restrict one’s capability to innovate and catalyze disruptive ideas. To grow, it is imperative to challenge every single old assumption. Rethinking how you do things keeps you agile and relevant. Avoid complexity, keep changes simple, and follow through with revolutionary ideas. The world will thank you for it.

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