Different measures demand different means. And in order to succeed, we need to be brave and we must try something. But it is easier said than done.

Courage above rationale
Although I do not sympathise with Frank Underwood’s methods and motivations, I agree with some of his epic statements in the Netflix series ‘House of Cards’.

In season three, Frank invites the Democratic Leadership to support a plan to get 10 million people into work and cut down the social benefits. It is a radical plan and it is rational, but they are not thrilled. No-one dares to take it
forward.

You need to believe
My job is to help argue for and encourage change. When running workshops across the organisation, we often manage to mobilise people and have the courage to change.

But when the organisation starts to realise the changes, things often get messy and people may lose faith in the vision. Change is messy, and if you as a leader show ambiguity, you lose track and, even worse, you cannot convince others to be brave. You need to believe.

What if it fails?
Failure is a natural part of our lives. We cannot succeed all the time. Unfortunately, some may say, others will argue that many great things have come from failures.

But this post is an invitation to all of us who find change too messy and sometimes find it hard to fully believe. Let us f…… try. Otherwise we will never succeed. And as Frank Underwood quotes Franklin D Roosevelt: “… if it fails, admit it frankly and try another method. But above all, try something.”

As the CEO and innovation adviser at the communications agency U (u-communicate.dk), Mette’s most important responsibility is helping organisations who have lost sight of their very reason for existing – their ‘raison d’être’ so to speak. She reminds them that it’s not about looking good, it’s about being successful.