0
0
Anticipate, Avoid, Accept: 3 Keys to Navigating Change
In the book Triggers, Marshall Goldsmith explores three essential concepts for navigating life and leadership: anticipation, avoidance, and acceptance. These concepts offer a philosophical approach to managing change and making more thoughtful decisions, both personally and professionally.
Anticipation
This is about thinking ahead, considering the full context, and preparing for what’s to come. Goldsmith emphasizes the importance of not just reacting to the present but anticipating the consequences of our actions. This involves considering how our decisions will affect others, the practical and ethical implications, and how things might play out in the long term. Much like a chess player who thinks several moves ahead, anticipating potential outcomes helps us make better decisions and avoid surprises.
Avoidance
This focuses on steering clear of unhelpful circumstances and situations that could hinder progress. Goldsmith suggests that we avoid temptations, distractions, and people or environments that do not serve our goals. In everyday life, this could mean avoiding unhealthy foods if you’re trying to maintain a healthy diet or steering clear of places where alcohol consumption could derail your goals. Success often comes not from what we do but from what we avoid. By eliminating unnecessary risks and temptations, we reduce the chances of failure, making it easier to achieve our goals. Oscar Wilde’s famous line, “I can resist anything except temptation,” humorously acknowledges the challenge of avoiding these pitfalls, yet the principle remains valid: avoiding harmful influences can be one of the easiest and most effective ways to safeguard success.
Acceptance
This is about recognizing what is beyond our control and learning to move forward despite it. Goldsmith highlights that there are certain things we simply cannot change—such as the weather, the actions of others, or external outcomes. However, we always have control over our reactions and our effort. This idea resonates with the famous Serenity Prayer: “Lord, give me the strength to change the things I can, the serenity to accept the things I cannot, and the wisdom to know the difference.” In sports and leadership, we can’t control external factors, but we can control how we prepare and perform. Taking pride in what we can control, regardless of the external circumstances, is key to maintaining focus and achieving personal growth.
Together, these three principles—anticipation, avoidance, and acceptance—serve as powerful tools for managing change. By anticipating challenges, avoiding distractions, and accepting what we cannot control, we can navigate complex situations with greater clarity and effectiveness. This approach is not only practical but also philosophical, offering a mindset that promotes resilience, thoughtful decision-making, and personal growth.
