8 Superpowers For Thriving In Constant Change

Change is universal and inevitable. Change is disorienting. Change clouds your horizons and paralyzes your courage. Today’s ever-increasing pace of change is relentless. “Humans really struggle with change, especially, change we did not choose,” shares April Rinne, author of the new book, FLUX, 8 Superpowers For Thriving In Constant Change.

“To thrive in this world in flux, we need to radically reshape our relationship to uncertainty and flip the script to sustain a healthy and productive outlook,” explains April. Fortunately, her new book shows you how to do exactly that, and how to help others do so too.

Part personal guidebook, part strategic roadmap, Flux provides a refreshingly new take on how to navigate change by using the Theory of Flux and developing eight Flux Superpowers.

The Theory of Flux:

Step 1: Open a Flux Mindset

Step 2: Use your Flux Mindset to unlock the eight Flux Superpowers

Step 3: Apply your Flux Superpowers to write your New Script

The superpowers are your essential disciplines and practices that are fit for a world in flux, and are to be applied into your life – each explained by April in the book:

1. Run Slower. It enhances your productivity.

2. See What’s invisible. Seeing what most people don’t look helps you get ahead of problems.

3. Get Lost. Stretching beyond your comfort zone fast tracks your creativity.

4. Start with Trust. Mistrust breeds inequity and kills curiosity. Trust begets trust.

5. Know Your “Enough.” Then you can discover a sustainable, flexible, and content future for yourself.

6. Create Your Portfolio Career. Treat your career as a portfolio of experiences and skills.

7. Be All the More Human (and Serve Other Humans). Use your humanity to help others.

8. Let Go of the Future. It’s all about focusing on what you can vs. can’t control and then how to unleash your best self.

Each of the Flux Superpowers helps you see change in new ways, develop new responses to change, and ultimately reshape your relationship with change.

April Rinne

Today, April shares these additional insights with us:

Question: I believe because of the past 1-1/2 years of the COVID-19 pandemic that readers will find Flux both incredibly useful and at the same time comforting. Do you agree and why?

April: I absolutely, 100% (or more like 1000%) agree. Flux is both timely and timeless: It is useful immediately today and also can help readers every day moving forward. Just knowing that -- you have a tool, a guidebook, a set of superpowers – for the rest of your life is itself comforting.

But that's not all. The message of Flux is fundamentally uplifting, as well. This is a book about reshaping your relationship to change to be fit for a world of constant change, and in order to do that, you have to get to know yourself better.

As part of reading the book, you're able to (re)discover your agency, your values, your dreams and quirks and expectations and so much else. Fundamentally, you gain clarity on "what makes you, you – even when everything else changes." Knowing this not only empowers you to weather any kind of change better; it also even makes you lean into change in new ways. How comforting and exciting is that?!

It's worth noting that Flux is not a book "about" the covid pandemic (or any particular kind of change, or any particular year). I began writing it long before 2020, with an eye toward its value long after. The events of the past 1-1/2 years have simply been an incredible accelerant and validation of its message.

Question: How long does it take after fully embracing the 8 Flux Superpowers for thriving in constant change for someone to truly reshape their relationship with change?

April: At a basic level, the quest to improve one's relationship to change is always underway. Learning how to thrive in constant change isn't a "one-and-done" quick fix, because that's not how change works. Of course, this also means that as long as you are living and breathing, embracing and practicing the 8 Flux Superpowers, your relationship to change is always improving, too!

In some ways, this evolution -- and progress towards flux -- can happen pretty quickly. I find this is especially the case for people who haven't really thought much about their relationship to change before. Those early steps and self-awareness can be quite eye-opening and make you hungry to learn more. But when change hits (yet again, as it never fails to do) putting what you've learned into practice can take time and effort. So, it's a continual process, akin to peeling back the layers of an onion, where each layer reveals yet something new to learn.

Keep in mind also that some superpowers are easier for some people than others, and some may be more difficult. (For example, some people may really struggle to Run Slower, while others find it harder to Start with Trust.) The superpowers are a menu, not a syllabus. But as you groove and strengthen one, you find the others can be easier to grasp. It's an additive process; they enhance one another. So, in this regard, there's a big incentive to dig into them – the benefits only increase as you do!

Question: What two or three things can leaders do today to help employees become more comfortable with change?

April:

Bring a Flux Mindset into your organization. Remember, organizations can have Flux Mindsets too! "Fluxiness" should be part of your organizational culture (if it's not yet, that's a good place to start). Have your team read Flux and tackle the superpowers together. Organizations are essentially groups of people, and if everyone can improve their relationship to change in some way that’s best. When an entire team does so, it can be transformative – at both individual and company levels.

Walk the talk. Flux reflects a paradigm shift for leaders. For example, historically we've expected leaders to have "the answers." Yet in a world and future full of uncertainty, no one really knows. Rather, great leaders in a world in flux are able to acknowledge this and invite their colleagues in to help. When you can exhibit the Flux Superpowers – being human, being comfortable getting lost, and so on – you open up and empower your team to step up, do the same, and move forward together.

Remember that trust powers everything. All 8 Flux Superpowers are essential for flux-y organizations; however, I find that trust is a sort of super-superpower. Without trust, everything else tends to fall apart. With trust, everything becomes easier, more nimble, and more successful. When change hits, trusted relationships are absolutely essential to move forward through uncertainty. Start by talking with your team about trust. If you find that trustworthiness is thin – on any level – then make that the starting point for your journey to Flux.

April offers this additional advice to leaders:

“Leadership with the new script and a Flux Mindset means paying everyone enough, ensuring everyone feels safe and valued, and treating others as peers rather than subordinates.”

Finally, she offers these fire-starter questions for leaders and suggests you keep your answers nearby as you read her book:

On a scale of 1 to 10, how would you rate your personal ability to lead in flux today? How would your best friend?
Do you tend to think in terms of “me” or “we”?
How do you feel about sharing power with others?
How would you rate your organization’s ability to flux? Are certain topics trigger points? Are select people, teams, or departments fluxier than others?
Five (or two, or ten) years from now, what kind of leader or seeker do you want to be? Of what kind of organization.

April Rinne is a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader ranked one of the “50 Leading Female Futurists” in the world by Forbes. She is a trusted advisor to well-known startups, companies, financial institutions, educational institutions, nonprofits, and think tanks worldwide, including Airbnb, Nike, Intuit, the World Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank, NESTA, Trōv, AnyRoad, and Unsettled, as well as governments ranging from Singapore to South Africa, Canada to Colombia, Italy to India.

Thank you to the book's publisher for sending me an advance copy of the book.

Comments

How To Build A High Performing Sales Team

Based on Stephanie Friedman 's 20 years of sales experience, her new book, Built to Grow: A Handbook For High-Performance Sales Teams , is the perfect step-by-step, go-to-market field guide for startup founders. Friedman offers readers a structured and repeatable methodology for building a high-performing sales function from a company’s earliest days. The book is divided into three phases of startup growth— Experiment, Build, and Scale. Within each of the three phases, Friedman covers: Sales Playbook Hiring Revenue Management Customer Success Compensations Culture Internal Collaboration Some of my favorite takeaway tips from the book include: No matter how experienced your salespeople are, any high-performing sales organization should follow one simple but important rule: No call without an agenda. This helps reinforce the necessary discipline around call preparation and ensures your customers have the best possible experience when talking to your...

How To Improve The Way Teams Think, Collaborate And Make Decisions Under Pressure

“Great decisions don’t happen by accident—they happen by design,” shares Dr. Ricardo Valerdi , author of the new book, The Five-Tool Team: Bringing Out The Best In People To Make Better Decisions . This book is not about finding perfect answers. It is about building a framework that allows you to make good decisions repeatedly, even when conditions are imperfect, information is incomplete, and outcomes are uncertain. More specifically, Valerdi reveals a practical framework for improving the way individuals and teams think, collaborate, and make decisions under pressure. Drawing on lessons from sports, business, engineering, and real-world experience, Valerdi shows how the most effective leaders build teams that question assumptions, analyze consequences, and make choices grounded in clarity rather than instinct or urgency. “Writing this book has been a phenomenal journey that started in 2018 when I was a visiting professor at the United States Military Ac...

Six-pillar Roadmap For How To Move From Merely Surviving To Truly Mattering

In the new book, The Mattering Effect: Creating A Life Of Meaning And Worth , podcaster and author John R. Miles reframes today’s most common struggles and empowers individuals and institutions alike to break bad habits and reclaim a sense of worth and belonging. “Organizations have spent the last decade chasing 'engagement' and 'psychological safety,' yet global productivity is stalling and 60% of employees report they do not feel valued in the places where they spend their days,” shares Miles. He calls this “The Great Erasure”—a condition where high-achievers become highly visible to the organization while becoming invisible to themselves. In addition, Miles argues that many of today’s most common struggles—burnout, anxiety, loneliness, and disengagement—are not personal failures or mindset problems. They are the result of unmattering: the gradual erosion of felt significance within modern systems that reward performance while overlooking presence. Fortu...

High-Performing Teams Are Made Of This

According to Ron Ricci and Carl Wiese, authors of the book, The Collaboration Imperative , high-performing teams have the following characteristics: People have solid and deep trust in each other and in the team's purpose--they feel free to express feelings and ideas. Everybody is working toward the same goals. Team members are clear on how to work together and how to accomplish tasks. Everyone understands both team and individual performance goals and knows what is expected. Team members actively diffuse tension and friction in a relaxed and informal atmosphere. The team engages in extensive discussion, and everyone gets a chance to contribute--even the introverts. Disagreement is viewed as a good thing and conflicts are managed. Criticism is constructive and is oriented toward problem solving and removing obstacles. The team makes decisions when there is natural agreement--in the cases where agreement is elusive, a decision is made by the team lead or executiv...

3 Things To Avoid When You Give Your Next Speech

If you don't want to get your speech off to a bad start, the communications experts at Speechworks suggest you: Don't apologize (particularly about your anxiety or lack of preparation. Apologies put your audience on the defensive. Don't start by telling a joke (which may not be all that funny, or is irrelevant, or that may even be offensive to someone in your audience). Don't beat around the bush (including, don't list off a lot of people you want to thank. Don't waste your audience's valuable time) Instead: If you need to deal with your anxiety, practice like crazy . Rehearse particularly your first line over and over. Start your presentation by laying out for your audience a key issue that they are facing in their business . If you must thank someone, do it at the end, or thank your introducer briefly, pause, and then start right into the meat of your message .

How To Be A Tough Enough Leader

Tomorrow brings a compelling and timely book about how tough enough you need to be as a leader to lead your team to greatness without being a jerk. The book is Tough Enough , by leadership coaches John Baird and Matt Hunter . The authors explain that building a high-performing team requires a new form of toughness―not based on bullying and bravado, but rather pushing for exceptional results in a way that is firm, fair, and respectful. Drawing on decades of coaching top CEOs, elite founders, and ambitious leaders, Baird and Hunter break down seven specific habits that define the strongest, most effective leaders, from being clear about the company culture to strategically unleashing emotional thunder. They set the record straight on when to prioritize understanding and empathy, when it’s time to be direct―and, most importantly, how to do both at the same time. Their no-nonsense approach gives readers the tools to calibrate their toughness and compassion in a ...

Book Review: The Elephant In The Room

Diana McLain Smith's new book, The Elephant in the Room , explains how relationships make or break the success of leaders and organizations. It's not a light right. For those who really want to understand relationships, however, this book, based on Smith's clinical research and a wealth of in-depth observational studies, is both insightful and worth the effort. Smith explains that when people click or clash, we typically chalk it up to chemistry and leave it at that. But, she knows there are many dynamics within that relationship that need understanding by a leader to create success. In fact, she says it's possible to identify and analyze the seemingly mysterious ingredients that go into the makings of a relationship. And, given the right tools, it's possible to understand what happens when a relationship forms, and then to actually anticipate what might happen next . That anticipation is critical, claims Smith. Smith also shows read...

10 Disciplines To Help You Stay Sharp And Energetic

The new book, Shine , is a transformative guide that illustrates how looking inward is the key to unlocking true entrepreneurial freedom. Certainly, Shine is a book for entrepreneurs, however, it is bound to benefit any business leader. “Entrepreneurs often have a burning need to succeed. But that same relentless brilliance that propels you in your career can take a toll on your teams, personal relationships, and even your health,” explain author Gino Wickman and coauthor Rob Dube . “Our book will help you strike a crucial balance between those inner and outer worlds while taking your success to new heights.” In Shine , Gino shares 10 disciplines to help you stay sharp and energetic without burning out. The 10 Disciplines teach you how they can lay a foundation that creates space in your busy life for you to consistently and optimally perform and achieve your inner peace. “I have helped tens of thousands of entrepreneurs achieve significant business succ...

The Leadership Quotes That Inspire Me

These quotes truly inspire me : “The three common characteristics of best companies -- they care, they have fun, they have high performance expectations.” -- Brad Hams “The one thing that's common to all successful people: They make a habit of doing things that unsuccessful people don't like to do.” -- Michael Phelps “It is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit." -- Harry S. Truman “The leader of the past was a person who knew how to tell. The leader of the future will be a person who knows how to ask.” -- Peter Drucker “Leadership: The art of getting someone else to do something you want done because he wants to do it.” -- Dwight D. Eisenhower “Good leadership isn't about advancing yourself. It's about advancing your team.” -- John C. Maxwell "People buy into the leader, then the vision.” -- John C. Maxwell “Great leaders have courage, tenacity and patience.” -- Bill McBean "People never...

How To Become A Catalyst CEO

Catalyst leaders are individuals who accelerate decision-making, empower teams, and spark innovation. To improve your catalyst leadership skills, you’ll want to read the new book by Constantine G. Alexandrakis , which provides a hands-on guide for building leadership teams and cultures that ignite business transformation. The book is The Catalyst CEO: Why CEOs Can’t Lead Transformation Alone―And What The Best Do Instead . Drawing on decades of experience advising world-leading companies, Alexandrakis challenges the cult of the hero CEO and offers a powerful new paradigm on what it truly takes to make business transformation happen―and stick. Alexandrakis defines transformation as more than change. “It’s a deliberate reinvention of how a company creates value through its people, its business model, and its place in the world.” He adds that “Real transformation depends on teams that are willing to argue clearly, and directly, while still finding a way to decide and move ...

Eric Jacobson On Management And Leadership

Search This Blog