Sandcastles (Not) In the Air

Photo Credit: Richard Chicoine iCopyright 2009

Leaders: Sand Castle Sculpting Lessons

As much as I believe that psychological assessments of skills and behaviors are valuable, I'd like to propose an additional leverage point for leaders interested in honing their innovation skills. Take a pail and shovel to the nearest beach. You'll learn about function, design, skill sets - including your challenges - and the right tools for innovation. Sculpting that sand castle can be great for your leadership health.

The ancient Egyptians designed scale models of pyramids using sand and water. From grains of sand, gigantic marvels were born. These miniature architectural experiments would contribute to the scale, efficiency and effectivness of their final blueprints. Metaphorically speaking, taking the "sand castles in the air" and in their minds to an actual, physical representation allowed the Egyptian pyramid builders/leaders to "do the right things, in the right way, for the right reasons, at the right time, with the right people". Let me add: "using the right skills and the right tools" to the list. This "right action" is also the bottom line for any leadership role.

Paul Saffo, a futurist based at Standford University has developed 4 rules to fuel tomorrow's innovation. As you read these rules, imagine applying them to sculpting in sand and allowing your skills to expand with your imagination. Think about the strategic tools which would increase your abilities and lead to an outstanding structure.

Rule #1: Uncertainty is possibility. Uncertainty is opportunity. And you don't want to get surprised by missing an important opportunity.

Rule #2: Some of the greatest dangers for an innovator who is able to identify future trends is to mistake a clear view for a short distance, to be too early, and to think that things are going to arrive more quickly than they actually are.

Rule #3: Don't let your hope about what will happen interfere with your judgment of what you think could happen.

Rule #4: The essence of executive wisdom is the ability to make the right decision based on incomplete information. The sooner you can be comfortable that you have the right decision with less information, the faster you can move over your competition.

Source: Paul Saffo, BigThink

Your Leverage Point

I could easily draw some quick comparisons to waves destroying your structures, just as the economy has washed away resources globally. Perhaps "getting down to business" should be "getting away from business" to start with a new pile of sand, a bucket of salt water, some old spoons and a carving knife.

Shouldn't "play" be part of your business strategy? You might learn more than you expected...history (aka ancient Egypt) has proven that point.

Maggie Chicoine, The Idea Sculptor, specializes in "Strategies to Think Ahead". Her column, "The Tuesday File" appears in www.lakesuperior.com weekly. Maggie is a respected leadership professional, keynote speaker, writer and Master Coach. Reach her at 1 800 587 1767. Twitter @ideasculptor.