Leaps and Bounds » simplicity

Perfection or action? The key to finding a simple solution, fast

Caroline — Mon, 11 Oct 2010 13:07:37 +0000

In the premise of the ‘Long Tail’ we have been given the opportunity to specialise and sometimes to gain profit from that niche position. The Internet has enabled us to do that. Obscure books and records can be sold easily through sites such as amazon and i-tunes. Some never sell, others do turn a profit. In business though we don’t often have the opportunity to cultivate our passions in the same way. The commercial imperative urges focus and speed. Yet I still hear about many people indulging their desires to learn more about technology and its potential through their role as trainers. There is no doubt that technology has significantly enhanced the speed with which we can do business and, in some cases, learn. But with the speed of change we currently experience, now is also the time to strip back and ask “what is the simplest, cheapest and quickest way to…….. (fill in the gaps here.)” Sometimes, in the world of development this can be an email with a call to action, a briefing for a team manager at a team meeting, a coaching question, a visit to a website or a short classroom session – whatever it is keep making a difference, fast by really challenging yourself on whether you are doing right by your stakeholders with every decision you make.

Now is not the time for indulgence or wallowing in the ‘beauty’ of what you have designed/ created, now is the time for action – so keep challenging yourself to find the simple solution, fast.

Simplicity rules ok

Caroline — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 14:21:01 +0000

In today’s information rich world, where you can find out absolutely anything at the touch of a button and be communicating simultaneously to three different people (or in practice, many more), business needs to find a simpler way of connecting with their staff and customers. So this year we are becoming the champion for keeping things simple. We’d love to hear your stories and experiences where you have been able to make a difference in this way or where you have observed or experienced the absurdities of overly complex procedures or job’s worth attitudes to getting things done.

We are still in the grips of an incredibly tough trading climate yet one of the positive things to come out of these times is our focus to challenge existing practices and explore better, more cost effective and simpler ways of working. Please share your stories with us and others so that we can all make the difference that will help us steer a stronger, more sustainable course in the future.

Where's your focus – on your competition or your customers?

Caroline — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 11:50:32 +0000

I love watching Phineas and Ferb with my children (secretly I also watch it with my husband too but don’t tell anyone!) http://bit.ly/dpNPs4 It’s simply the best thing around about two boys who invent things, incredible things. Meanwhile, their pet Platypus, Perry, is really a Secret Agent who is busy stopping the evil Dr Doofenschmurtz creating havoc. It’s fun, innovative and every single episode makes you go wow. Their principle of life is the avoidance of boredom and in doing so ensure that others have a great time too.

So what can we learn from this programme (did I say you simply must watch it). Two things:

Lessons from Perry – Dr Doofenschmurtz is so obsessed with showing off to his nemesis Agent P (Perry) that he never manages to fulfil his evil intentions. How much time, money, and resource do you and/or your organisation spend looking at your competition and trying to outdo them? What could you more fruitfully achieve if you spent that time creatively asking and listening to your customers instead? I hear the constant obsession by some organisations with enticing customers from competitors through early deals and seductive promises that we forget the thousands/ millions of customers with whom we already have a relationship. Research shows that businesses are doing everything in their power to make it as easy as possible to switch but are they deploying the same amount of resources on helping customers to stay? Which leads me nicely to the second learning from Phineas and Ferb
Each day they invent the impossible. Each episode starts with “Hey Ferb, I know what we are going to do today!” With conviction, passion and enthusiasm their inventiveness has rubbed off on the most unusual bunch of children who gather to help. If you started each day with that same mantra with the same energy and conviction, what new ideas do you think you and your team could have to help your customers stay. Often the boys create inventions to thrill their friends and has nothing to do with their own motives. They get their kicks simply by helping or creating something for others. So why not spend the next week just talking to your customers, delving a little deeper and showing that you really care. Ask your staff too also. You never know what you mind find out to help them stay loyal to you.