Have you ever been disappointed by the results of a change initiative? Have you ever worked with someone who was renowned for being late in completing projects or attending meetings? Have you heard: “Change takes a long time.†“Change is hard.†“People do not like change.†“People resist change.†Have you found these comments to be consistent with your past experiences? Would you be interested in experiencing change in a more effective and empowering way?

This story about Ben illustrates how easily a leader can shift a team member’s self-limiting perceptions. Progressive leaders and their leadership teams can learn to effect similar changes to produce breakthroughs in performance and gain a competitive edge. For leaders and team members, it is their perception of reality, not reality itself, which constrains them.