Be Consistent

Over the years, it has become clear to us that customers, leaders, and people in general prefer consistency. They like stability. They like to know that things will be going in a certain way all the time. And when interruptions occur, it can be really positive or really negative. As you continue to start/grow your business or lead your community, you may want to think about creating a system that helps you be consistent.

It’s OK to change. Just know WHY you are changing, and the impact the change will have, particularly in uncertain times. With the COVID pandemic in the background, creating a system that could help people be a bit more at ease or comfortable is key.

I can’t tell you what the best system for you might be — this is not a “one system fits all” situation, although there are some systems that can create the perception and reality of being consistent.

Here is an example of one thing I have done — not to brag about it, but to shed light on what you might consider in your world.

I started blogging in the early 2000s, but I was never consistent. I blogged once a month for a while, then once every four months, sometimes once every six months. In 2007 I began reflecting on what I wanted to do with those blogs. Based on the customers I was working with and the people I interacted with, the writing was on the wall —I needed to blog regularly, consistently.

I researched, over several months, the most common blog formats, ranging from several posts a day to once a month. I reflected on what made sense with the time and capacity that I had. It became clear that I could blog every day, but would be unlikely to sustain it because of the demand it put on me. So I chose to blog weekly, and I’ve been doing that for the past several years.

I encourage you to think about what would work for you, what would equate to “consistency” in whatever it is you want to do.

Consistency is the key! When you do change, think about why you are changing, and the impact of that change.

BEFORE YOU GO

We see our blogs as opportunities for dialogue. Please share your thoughts as comments.

1. Why are you changing, and what do you see as the impact of the change?

2. What does consistency mean to you?

3. Share with us other tools you have used to bring about consistency and change.