The classic joke that begins with that set-up, “A priest, a minister, and a rabbi walk into a bar . . . “ belongs to a whole genre called “bar jokes.”
In fact, you can find at least one joke about the joke itself: “"A priest, a minister, and a rabbi walk into a bar. The bartender looks at them and says, 'What is this, a joke?'"
What makes the classic bar joke genre so effective is that it throws into sharp and comic relief the different beliefs, perspectives, and contexts that exist among people.
So now imagine this scenario: “A corporate manager, public health professional, and a community activist walk into a meeting to create a campaign to promote responsible drinking in their town . . .”
Where’s the humor in that set-up?
Actually, we’re making this up to prove a point.
Unfortunately, it’s the start of what could be black or gallows humor, the kind of grim and ironic humor that comments on a desperate or hopeless situation.
You see, when it comes to change, whether it’s to help people cut back on drinking, manage their time better, stop procrastinating, be more productive, or improve relationships with others, no one size fits all. No one technique or tool works for everyone. No single tactic produces good results across the board.
But before we go on, let’s finish the “joke” we began.
“A corporate manager, a public health professional, and a community activist walk into a meeting to create a campaign to promote responsible drinking in their town, which includes a local pub where middle-aged male construction workers gather after work, a reception hall used for big weddings, college fraternities known for their wild Friday night parties, a high-tech company with an after-hours open bar, and a neighborhood hard-hit by unemployment.”
The “joke” reveals the absurdity of thinking that these unique and distinctly different scenarios could be met with a single plan.
In fact, one reason people find change so difficult to make is because of the flawed belief that it’s about finding the one thing that will make it happen. As if the challenge is in finding the right “thing,” whether it’s a tool, idea, or technique.
The truth is, human behavior is a lot more complex than that. It’s influenced by a highly complex set of changing conditions and factors. Making a positive change and making it stick is not about just one thing, but about the individual themselves, the people around them, and their physical environments.
Talking about positive, lasting change isn’t just fluff or woo-woo.
It’s critical for achieving what you want on the job . . . and at home.
In fact, managing change is the hallmark of all successful leaders.
And it starts with effective self-leadership: being responsible, accountable, and disciplined; plus, managing your inner world of emotions and your emotional reactions.
Just like the lesson our “joke” delivered, you can develop those critical self-leadership traits, skills, and habits in lots of different ways. In fact, you are the only one who knows for certain what works and fits for your unique needs, interests, and values.
Ultimately however, good self-leadership depends on your ability to coach yourself.
In our five-week Be Your Own Best Coach cohort-based course, we’ll show you exactly how to do that. Enter you email address below if you want to join the waitlist and keep up to date with powerful ideas for accelerating your career.