Ambling towards the faculty club at Stanford University, Jim Stockdale paused to answer Jim Collins’ question, “Who didn’t make it out?” He answered, “The optimists”, continuing, “they were the ones who said, ‘We’re going to be out by Christmas.’ And Christmas would come and Christmas would go. Then they’d say, ‘We’re...
by Michel Hogan and David Finn* Ever wondered how, despite the best intentions of everyone involved, promises get broken? You thought the detail was nailed. Everyone was working hard to make it happen. Then bit by bit, things unravelled, and time ran out. What went wrong? What unpredictable forces undermined your...
Have you ever seen the term ‘values-based policies’? A company using it meant a policy that determined people’s behaviour, for example, a code of conduct. Yet, more broadly, all policies exist to shape and guide activity and decisions. Meaning if your values are genuine, they should form the foundation. Turning...
After a door panel blew out mid-flight, an FAA audit gave Boeing until the end of May to sort out continuing problems with its planes. The deadline is fast approaching, and it’s still unclear if executive exits, reshuffles and statements about “building on the learnings” will be enough to satisfy...
While enjoying a coffee with a friend, she shared a story about her workplace, which got me pondering the culture-process divide and the consequences for people’s endeavours. Culture is how people choose to do things repeatedly, and processes direct people on how to do it. And when those two things are...
"Instead of bringing back 1600 plants, we might return from our journeys with a collection of small unfêted but life-enhancing thoughts." Alain de Botton Travel always reveals… something. A recent trip reminded me of the importance of getting the essential things right. No matter what your business does. There is one thing that is...
“And then we started the brand work“, said the CEO while I listened to her talk about the behind-the-scenes effort to reimagine their product. Then, later the same week, I received another company’s business plan. A comment hidden in the notes for one area said, “Brand doesn’t play a part in...
On the bottom shelf of my bookcase, I’ve got a small library of books and a stack of papers that explore promises and commitments.The authors ramble at length about the moral foundations and legal consequences of making, keeping and breaking promises. Yet, beyond the examples they use, none provide tools...
Taking measured action over and over is decidedly unsexy. Especially given it runs counter to the more common ‘splashy launch’ mindset.Yet, when I encountered the idea laid out a decade apart by two authors, it seemed like both an antidote and a helpful way to think about achieving a brand...
Anyone who has ever tried to change an organisation’s culture can attest to legacy’s sticky hold, where the pull of the past routinely stymies good intentions.How to break through the inertia is the question wrestled with by every organisation taking a deliberate approach to their culture. Culture is built one action...