Build A Better Business 30

We all understand that two plates of metal running over each other would generate noise, heat and do damage. Why? Friction of course: to the naked eye, the respective surfaces seem perfectly smooth, but under the eye of a microscope the jagged range of peaks and troughs is revealed. Perfectly smooth is impossible, so we lubricate with an appropriate solvent such as oil. Hey presto: the surfaces glide smoothly over each other, friction is immediately reduced and the side effects of noise, heat and untold damage to the mechanisms are reduced.

And so it is in business. To the naked eye, the 34-slide PowerPoint pack distributed at the new strategy launch looks pretty smooth and easy running. Under closer examination though there are many peaks and troughs of What if? Even, WTF? Soon friction between various parties in the organisation generates heat, noise and long-term damage to the machinery of good business. The solution? As always: lubrication. This time coffee and conversation with an emphasis on probing questions and explicit answers. Little can beat the WD40 of respectful, deep and consistent coffee and conversation.