You May Be Operating From Old Software

What we are actually talking about here are mental models.

What are mental models, why are they important, especially in positions of leadership?

Mental models are deeply held, engrained beliefs that we carry within.

Many of which stem from our childhood, and often live in our subconscious.

They are created from the messages we were given by our parents, later on in life from leaders, peer groups, or from our own personal experience.

Also known as thinking patterns.

In the famous words of Adam Grant, "we laugh at people who still use windows 95, yet we cling to opinions formed in 1995".

Why are they important?

They inform the decisions that we make, the way we think systems should work, and the way people should behave.

Because they live in our subconscious, we are often not aware of how they are informing our decision making, resulting in poor outcomes and leadership.

Lack of insight into our mental models, limits our ability to see things from different perspectives and take new approaches.

It can also break down trust and safety within teams.

Why is this process challenging?

Because we are challenging our beliefs. Beliefs about something being right, and challenging the fact that what we once knew, could be wrong.

This process can also threaten our identities. Making it feel as though we are losing a part of ourselves.

Once we become aware of our mental models, we can open the door and ability to re-think and re-learn.