Shifting on the Violin
There is something fascinating to see on the violin, how I play the same song in two different ways, one where I remain stationary on the strings and the other where I move along the strings. Which approach do you think sounds better? Listen here!
From where I stand, the second option, where I shift, sounds much better than the first one.
When I play the violin, I can play on the neck or move it forward. I can also move back as far as I want to play higher and higher notes on the same strings. The key is that I'm playing the same tune but shifting on the violin.
Shifting in Business
I want you to grasp how important it is to know when and how to switch in your business. I don't have to adjust in this song to perform it, but if I want to enhance how it makes the audience feel, I must understand how and when to shift. For instance, if I want to increase the way the song makes the audience feel, I must learn how and when to switch. I must also take the time to understand how to switch smoothly on the violin.
As entrepreneurs and business owners, we have to learn this skill set to manage and operate our businesses effectively. The same actions can have a greater impact if we know when and how to shift for our business. If you haven't yet learned how and when to shift for your business in a way that engages and includes your workforce, now is the time. Whenever we shift something neurological happens not just for us, but our team members as well.
Shifts Affect the Whole Team
There are times when we make shifts as small business owners that can “derail the train.” We may shift ourselves, but we often leave our teams behind. It's not just about shifting you, though this is sometimes the case. It's also about conveying the transformation properly and recognizing the small adjustments we can make to improve.
My Challenge for You
Take a moment to evaluate your business and find one or two areas where a minor change could produce a big return. Find those parts of your business that you think are not working as well as they should be and begin there. Focus on getting educated on that particular area. Maybe it's your marketing, your leadership, or your fiscal management, but find the shifts you can make and learn from them. Don't rewrite your process; just shift it.