Did you ever stop to think what it must be like to be a fish in an aquarium? While this may be a scary thought for some, it's not too far from present realities for some of us. Certainly, the similarities between the fish's experience and ours are interesting points to consider.

Let's take just three. Firstly, the fish is not aware that it is actually in a restrictive space. As it swims around it will meet with resistance as it encounters the wall of the aquarium, so it simply changes direction so the resistance is minimized. Secondly, the fish has little or no wish to escape from the current predicament, his/her ‘reality' is both predetermined and fully accepted as ‘the way things are'. Lastly, for the point of our little exercise, the fish has no idea that it is immersed in a specific environment - in this case, water - until a trauma occurs.

If the environment is changed gradually over time, the change may not be recognizable. I recall hearing of an experiment where the temperature of the water in a beaker containing a frog was slowly raised, and the frog made no attempt to preserve itself.

Now, substitute a person for the fish, and a corporate environment for the aquarium. Does it seem to you that the three points still hold true? If so, we could be in deep trouble, and not realize it. Perhaps fish are not sentient beings, but we definitely are! At some point we'll become aware of our circumstances and want to do something constructive to change them.

We have the power to change ourselves, and further, we have some limited abilities to change the circumstances in which we find ourselves. The first step is to become aware, the next is to plan for remedial / developmental action, and the third is to respond through purposeful action. The Leadership / Management Impact diagnostic, is an excellent way to take the first step - to become aware. The attached Interpretation will assist you with the second step.

Should you discover that there are issues, not within yourself but in the context of your current situation, that need to be resolved, you're invited to examine the impact of the organizational ‘culture' as part of your emerging awareness. You'll find an informative assessment tool on the Andros Website to assist you.

Indecision may be ‘the key to flexibility', however, failing to make those critical decisions that could improve ourselves and our circumstances will restrict our ‘life quality'. Rumor has it that we have only one life, so why not take that first step today?