Summer Edition #3 - Straight to the point

Summer Edition #3

How many ways?

You’ve seen these chef’s hats before, I’m sure. They’re called a toque blanche, and their height is proportional to the person’s status, or authority in the kitchen.

But did you know that the folds also tell us something? There are a maximum of 100 — and each represents a different way to prepare an egg. In some kitchens, this is how they test aspirant chefs, with a task even I can do (although not well): prepare a perfectly poached egg. Without vinegar, or ice water, or any tricks.

In my own work, the equivalent of cooking a poached egg perfectly each time is my ability to take groups on a conceptual journey to a high-value destination where they achieve clarity on something complex or realise a breakthrough idea. I’ve done it thousands of times, and groups of executives or directors, unlike eggs, aren’t so uniform, and I learn something each time I do it.

But, my strong belief is that high levels of skill aren’t always to be found in the high-wire acrobatics of uncommon performance; they’re to be found in our ability to deliver what is ‘everyday’ to each of us, perfectly and predictably.

Question: What’s your perfected ‘everyday’ skill that others can rely upon you for?

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Drag and drop

I’ve often suspected that ideas travel in packs, and several clients have been talking to me about variants of this question: “What is it that truly differentiates executive teams from management teams?”

There are several dimensions to this, but one group made an insightful observation.

Truly high-functioning executive groups don’t just make it their business to recognise outstanding capabilities, nor to understand it. They ask 4 questions about how to ‘drag and drop’ what’s special:

1. How do we amplify it, so it has greater impact?

2. How do we replicate it, so everyone can do it?

3. How do we generalise it, so as to find new applications?

4. How do we codify it as IP, so we can pass it on (including selling it)?

I’ve written previously in 5MSMs about ‘secret sauce’ organisations — I believe that ALL successful businesses have something that is a unique, or at least distinctive, blend of perspective, capability and process.

Question: What is outstanding about your organisation, and how would you answer the 4 questions above?

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Connecting with your audience

Australians are known for bluntness. But, then, so are many other nationalities like Americans (at least, those from New York where I’ve spent the last two weeks!). Also notable are Israelis, the Dutch, South Africans and Russians.

It doesn’t mean any of us are rude, but we believe in being ‘authentic’, or at least not sugarcoat or dissemble.

It’s why a heartfelt apology in customer service goes a long way (“Sorry, we stuffed up”) and also why, when I was buying cold-weather gear ahead of a trip to New Zealand, I was delighted when a sales assistant told me, “Actually, don’t buy one of those. They’re crap. Go to [he named another store] and buy one there”. I’d already piled up several hundred dollars of gear on his counter, so he was assured of a decent sale, but I was grateful.

Sometimes bluntness even goes viral: take a look at this hilarious Craigslist ad for a beaten-up Toyota Corolla. I’ve rarely read such great copy in an advertisement - it’s pure marketing genius that absolutely connects with its intended audience.

Question: On what issues can you afford to be more blunt than you are?

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People tell me that one of the things they like about 5 Minute Strategic Mindset is that it takes 5 minutes (never longer) to read. It takes me about 30 - 40 minutes to write (rarely longer), so both production and consumption are acts of brevity.

Another act of brevity is for you to click the ‘heart’ below, to let me know you’ve enjoyed this week’s edition. I really do appreciate it.

Until next week (or, more accurately, next year!), look at what you can ‘drag and drop’ into other contexts,

Andrew