Post Peak? It may be time to adapt.

"We have always done it that way," and "Whatever," are the two statements that will crush your dreams, limit your future, and destroy any hope of a better tomorrow. If you are an "IKE" (I Know Everything), then you are certainly post peak, meaning your best days are behind you. You have already learned everything you will ever need, you are closed-minded, and are rarely coachable. In fact, you probably dismiss others, interrupt them when they speak, have poor listening skills, and are resolute when you state, "We have always done it that way."

There is some good news. A light at the end of the tunnel. It's never too late to learn, adapt, adjust, and overcome bad habits. Instead of embracing your inner IKE, it may be time to try something new, build on your knowledge base, open up your mind, find a mentor, and become coachable. This path will lead you towards a continual learning mindset, becoming open-minded, embracing new thoughts and ideas, and positioning yourself towards a brighter future. A future filled will opportunity, stronger business relationships, a better subject matter expertise, and the ability to adapt to change.

I had a manager that would interrupt everyone, as "whatever" was their favorite word. 'Whatever' dismisses everyone around you. It makes others feel less important. It disparages and alienates those involved in the conversation. Eliminate this toxic word from your vocabulary immediately. Enhance your proactive listening skills, be present in all of your conversations, and show respect towards others. Engage them by asking questions about what they do, what they like, what they know, who they know, and what their opinions are. Be open to new ideas and learn from others as often as possible. You won't learn a thing if you are the only one talking.

Avoid the IKE. If you have an IKE in your inner circle, remove them as their toxicity will infect you and your team. If you tend demonstrate IKE tendencies, it's time to practice self-realization and make the necessary changes so your best days are still ahead of you. You must learn how to adapt to change. You need to become more agile and flexible in your thinking. News flash: You don't know everything, you just think you do. So embrace the continual learning mindset approach to ensure your best days are ahead.

With technology constantly evolving and the competition adapting their strategies, start your new journey by embracing new ideas, surrounding yourself with intelligent and brilliant people, and creating a continual learning mindset to stay ahead in your industry. This will ensure your best days are ahead of you.

Mark Krajnik, LSSGB, CPC, (The Culture Coach) is the CEO at Performance Mindset Associates (PMA). Mark is a tenured Talent Strategist and experienced people leader, and offers fractional chief people officer services. He is an Executive Talent Leader in recruitment operations, executive search, talent acquisition, L&D, culture coaching, human capital consulting, change management, and talent management. He is very passionate about people, building high-performance teams, creating retention-focused cultures, and career development. He brings a focus on performance, execution, creative problem solving, and goal achievement. Please go to performancemindset.co for more information or send an email to info@performancemindset.co.