By Neil Samuels, Partner and Core Faculty, People Powered Innovation Collaborative
I love the phrase often used by my friend and colleague Cheri Torres— “pause, breathe,
and get curious.” We cannot overuse that mantra during these incredibly VUCA times
(Volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous). Precisely when the situation seems to call
for quick decision and action, we are often better served by slowing down just a bit, taking
a slow, deep breath, and getting curious. But about what? I suggest focusing on three
elements–Learning, Strengths, and Possibility.
Learning
- What are you learning that might be helpful going forward? Over the next few weeks?
When shelter-in-place restrictions start to lift? - Who has stepped up and demonstrated new competence (talents,
knowledge, or skills)? - Who has displayed great character or shown unexpected leadership and
because of that has helped your organization thrive? - Have there been the new influencers in your organization?
- What have you done differently that worked? What have you tried that with
some rapid prototyping and adaptation could prove valuable? - Who else might it be helpful to include in ongoing conversations?
- Those most affected by any changes?
- Those with different perspectives who could help enlarge the possibility
set? - Customers, clients, or those you serve?
Strengths
- What strengths (in competence and/or character) in your people have you tapped into
over the past two months? How could you amplify the impact of those strengths? - What capabilities, resources, knowledge, wisdom, and wonder that give life to your
organization when it’s most alive, and most successful have you tapped into over the
past two months? How could you amplify the impact of those gifts?
Possibility
Given everything you have learned, what might be possible now that would have
been unimaginable two months ago?
- In your business model? (How you create, deliver, and capture value.)
- In your operating model? (Your organizational structures, processes and
practices.)
You can use these questions first to reflect on the past couple months. Then, incorporate
them into short weekly sessions with diverse groups of people to ensure you stay current. I
think you will find the brief pauses spent in getting curious will generate robust returns for
your people and your organization.
Side note on why strengths matter
University of Wisconsin researchers studying team performance videotaped two bowling
teams. The members of each team then studied their video to improve their skills. But the
two videos had been edited differently. One team received a video identifying only its
mistakes; the other team’s video, by contrast, showed only what was working well; i.e., the
good performances and their strengths-in-use. After studying the videos, both teams
improved their game, but the team that studied its successes improved its score twice
as much as the one that studied its mistakes.
Photo by Ekaterina Bolovtsova from Pexels