Everything is decaying. Nothing improves on its own.

The concept of status-quo being the maintenance of a result is a fallacy. Doing the same thing over and over will result in diminishing returns. 

Status-quo is like a pilot holding onto the controls of the plane and ignoring the impact of a head or side wind wind. To do so would never enable the pilot to reach his destination. The wind pushes the plane off course and the pilot needs to take active countermeasures to keep the plane on course.

Likewise, every plan is only valid for a very short initial period. Thereafter, every plan requires adjustments to compensate for uncontrollable variables.

The 2^nd Law of Thermodynamics states that all things are decaying, eroding, and falling apart. Nothing gets better by itself. Therefore great leaders make continual adjustments to keep their organizations headed in a positive direction.

Here are five things that leaders can do to assist them in counteracting the effects of the 2^nd Law of Thermodynamics:

• Increase general awareness: Remain open-minded and tap into the awareness of a team. This includes feedback from employee engagement surveys and good leading indicator reports that show where the organization is going.
• Increase self-awareness: Remain humble and seek feedback from trusted confidants who will speak truth into your life and hold you accountable. Don’t be closed and defensive, rather thank others for their candid feedback and welcome them to keep it coming.
• Clarify and align with your operating philosophy: Take time to define your operating philosophy and then align all of your actions accordingly. Your operating philosophy defines what you really believe and will act on, not what you hope for.
• Practice intentionality: Take action and do the little things consistently. These are the actions that are as easy to do as not do, for which the result is not always easy to measure, and therefor most people will take the path of least resistance than the path of intentionality committed to one’s philosophy.
• Own your missteps: Nobody is perfect. When you make a misstep own it, and the associated consequences, and then make the necessary adjustments to get back on a positive path. 

Herb Mast is a Leadership Coach and Employee Engagement Specialist. Learn how he can assist you in implementing the principles and concepts presented here.