Author: whatifconcepts

Empowering those that inspire so they can excel at the work that matters.

VIPs

What do your VIPs experience that eludes your general members? It is reported that Elon Musk had a small group of employees annotating data from his Tesla automobile to ensure self-driving mode worked most effectively. His data received special attention to maximize performance. This level of service was not available to the average Tesla owner. Elon’s driving experience is different than all other Tesla owners, unless they drive the same routes he uses with his Tesla.

What VIP services might conflate the experience the general member receives? How might we assess the service we provide to all our customers, not just those who have the special phone number and secret doors into our enterprise?

How might we monitor the experience of all our fans? How might we not focus solely on the VIPs who have secret phone numbers and private entrance privileges? If our organization’s stated values and actions diverge when it comes to our most important members, perhaps we need to have a generative conversation about our priorities.

Forecasted Priorities

How might a forecast change your priorities? What if the forecast is inaccurate? What if the forecast is fifty percent of the actual event, will you have bandwidth in your priorities to adjust?

How might we evaluate the forecast but leave room for wayfinding when real-time events present a different reality than the prediction?

Multiple Security Sectors

When traveling through an airport and required to navigate repetitive security sectors, does it make you feel safer or more frustrated? What deficiencies exist in the first round of screening that require a second or third round of reexamination? What is the probability that upon repeat investigation, a prohibited item or dangerous motivation will be discovered?

Multiple checks are embraced in context. Headed to surgery, multiple confirmations of the patient’s identity and procedure are appreciated. Being asked if you have accepted an item from a stranger in the five minutes between security stations brings up questions about the quality of the previous screening phases.

How might we balance providing security while establishing trust in the process?

Please Review Your Item

A hardware store emailed the other day and asked for a review of the three-foot wood dowel I purchased. I received a second request identifying the wood dowel as an item that had not been reviewed, and the store was seeking input. If I did review the item, I am not sure it would benefit future customers.

How might we ask for feedback on experiences and items that alter the course of our work? If we ask for a review of everything or uniform items, we might be frustrating our fans instead of offering a chance to delight future users.

Staging

I noticed multiple lawnmowers staged on lower yards around our neighborhood. Due to the slope’s grade and the proximity of stairs, it is more convenient for homeowners to place a second push lawnmower at the low point of their property and use it for a limited area that is difficult to reach.

How might we stage our resources so we can act when needed, even if it means dedicating an item with a greater range than the deployment area? How might we identify where staging might be more effective than repetitive load-in/load-out scenarios?

River Speed

If we proceed at river speed, our ability to navigate is minimal. If we paddle faster or slower (against the current), our ability to make significant maneuvers is greatly increased. Go for the ride when you can, it nice to be swept along by the current. However, if we need to take action or move across the river body, then adding power may be the most effective way to navigate.

How might we toggle between the river current and paddling with power in our own work?

Recommended

What is the difference between receiving a cold call versus a referral? When a potential client calls stating that I was recommended by another organization (or individual), suddenly, we develop a triangle. There is the cause seeking professional services, my work as a consultant, and the third party who has encountered my talents somewhere prior. By having three fixed points, it is easier to develop and nurture a connection. When I receive a cold call and a request for a proposal, the decision on who to engage for the work is often based on price or other lesser considerations.

What is the third fixed point that elevates your work/engagement with others? As a social sector organization seeking contributions, a known donor asking another potential donor to engage is often far more successful than a random solicitation. When seeking a new board member, even a previous board member with connections to a candidate may be the best initiator of a conversation. Triangles allow us more flexibility and provide more latitude, even if we stumble during our first encounter.

Interpreter of Space

Who is your guide to navigating the terrain ahead? Who can interpret the spaces and blank spots on the map? Roadside attractions are easier to reach with their interpretative signs and pullouts. The landscapes that lack features often test our wayfinding skills the most. How might we prepare for the isolated and desolated sections of our journey with as much care as we commit to reaching the iconic summits?

Preserving From the Outputs of Progress
Light Pollution Map

What are the benefits and residual impacts of our work output? When we look at the light pollution map, we see where the man-made illumination has the most radiance and which parts still retain dark sky characteristics. There are now Dark Sky Reserves dedicated to preserving regions from human-produced lighting.