Charles Specht

Why do we typically do the things that we do? Because it is what we’ve always done. Or, at least, it’s what we feel is the most acceptable way of doing it. The way that won’t step on too many people’s toes. For those of us somewhat unfamiliar with this concept, it is called the Status Quo.

There is a status quo for just about everything done under the sun. There are status quo’s in churches, work environments, sales, book publishing, newspaper & magazine publishing, marriage, parenting, how to purchase goods, etc. Here are two examples of the status quo:

  • Church Worship Services: 4 songs, two prayers, some announcements, a 40-minute sermon, and a closing hymn. Why? Because that’s how we’ve done it for the past 25 years.
  • Insurance, Real Estate, & Sales: The “average” commission percentage (6%, 15%, 25%, etc.) per sale. Why? Because every other sales person in that industry has always charged that percentage.

Is There Anything Wrong With The Status Quo?

No, there is nothing wrong with the status quo, so long as it is working, thriving, and if your tribe of followers are all on board with it, that is. The routine becomes the status quo as soon is it becomes repetitious. And that certainly doesn’t mean there is anything wrong with it. In fact, it could be the very best way to manufacture a widget, publish a novel or sell a commodity.

But then again, it might be an archaic way to work towards a goal. Times are constantly changing and—therefore—maybe our ways should change with them. You don’t have to become a heretic when suggesting new ways to do something quicker, better, and cheaper. Yet then, maybe you do need to become a heretic in order to effect the necessary changes in your tribe.

Dictionary.com offers this as a definition for the word heretic:

“anyone who does not conform to an established attitude, doctrine, or principle.”

The Christian reformer, Martin Luther, was considered a heretic after he nailed his 95 Theses to the church door, challenging the religious status quo. But if he didn’t step out of the comfort zone and do that then we might still be living in the dark ages today, thinking we could earn our way to heaven by paying for indulgences, etc., rather than God’s grace alone.

There are many heretics who challenge the status quo. Some might be good and some might be bad. I’m not so concerned, at this point, with figuring out who are the good and bad heretics. What I want to focus on is whether or not the status quo needs to be challenged, defended, reworked, or scraped altogether.

Status Quo: Breaking Out Of The Routine

The remarkable Seth Godin wrote a best-selling book called Tribes, in which he frequently discusses the idea of the status quo. He also blogs about this topic frequently and there is one article that I think is quite fascinating. In his article Top Ways To Defend The Staus Quo, he gives 17 statements which assist us in answering the question about whether we are leading, following, or defending the present system. Here are just a few that I think are interesting.

“That will never work.”

 “Well, if you had some real-world experience, then you would understand.”

“It’s fantastic, but the salesforce won’t like it.”

“Well, this might work for other people, but I think we’ll stick with what we’ve got.”

“Our team doesn’t have the technical chops to do this.”

“Maybe in the next budget cycle.”

“We’ll get back to you on this.”

The Status Quo

How can you overcome the status quo and become a more influential leader? The following articles will help you answer that question for yourself. If you have any questions or comments, contact me. Enjoy!

 

* Image credit: HikingArtist.com (Creative Commons)