Strategy is Not About Doing What’s “Important”

By Pascal Dennis (bio)

Be willing to make decisions. That's the most important quality in a good leader.
General George S. Patton

Nothing is more difficult, and therefore more precious, than to be able to decide.
Napoleon Bonaparte

Plenty of misconceptions about this one.

We seem to think that developing our strategy entails asking each member of our senior team for their ‘laundry lists.’

Result? An overflowing project hopper, a pipeline that’s turned to cement, and a confusing message to team members.

Strategy is about choosing. “Here’s where we’re going, and these are the activities that’ll get us there. All these others are good ideas but they’re not our priority, so we’re going to put them in the Parking Lot for now.”

Of course, as noted in my earlier column, there is no ‘right answer’ in strategy. So, we articulate our hypothesis with the understanding that we’ll adjust it based on what happens.

Quick adjustments depend entirely on a strong management system that allows us to detect changes, and adjust and deploy our ‘emergent’ strategies.

Strategy is about deciding and about accepting the responsibility therein. ‘Deciding’ is the leader’s most difficult job.

Napoleon Bonaparte and George Patton were clear on this. (George W. Bush, perhaps dyslexic, was less elegant: “I’m the decider and I make the decisions.”)

Deciding means we’ve grasped the situation on the chessboard, and have articulated a plan. The ‘story’ behind the decision is an important test of the plan.

Does the story make sense? Is it compelling? Can we communicate it to our management team and organization?

Thus strategy is also story-telling. I write stories and poems for fun and to record my adventures around the world [Reflections of a Business Nomad].

Stories & poems keep our strategic thinking skills sharp. They help us read the chessboard - and decide.

Best regards,

Pascal




In case you missed our last few blogs... please feel free to have another look…

Agriculture - The Next Frontier?
Lean Thinking in Software Design
Problem Solving and the Worlds of Reflection & Experience
Learning How to Manage

Slow Down and Smell the Roses, Part 2

By Pascal Dennis

Trust you all have had a restful holiday season.

Last time I talked about the importance of Temperance.

Temperance is one of the Cardinal Virtues (and one of my weak points).

I mentioned that my Italian friends and colleagues seem to understand Temperance at a deeper level.

Here for your enjoyment is a piece from Reflections of a Business Nomad that I wrote in Italy. (LINK to PDF)

Best regards,

Pascal

Pascal Dennis Bio

Greece Again, part 1

By Pascal Dennis

Greece is all over the news again. As our readers may know, I’m of Greek descent and proud of it. My grandfather, Pascali, emigrated to America on Jan 10, 1921.

He came through Ellis Island, like millions of others, and made a life for himself in Cincinnati, where we still have family. My grandfather’s name is recorded on the splendid Ellis Island memorial wall overlooking the New York city skyline. His ship’s manifest is prominently framed in my office.

People ask me, “What do you make of Greece’s problems?”

I’m not sanguine about the country’s future, to be frank. In my experience, Greece is a land of waste and corruption, run by special interests including the bureaucracy, protected industries, and public and private sector unions.

Famously, it’s cheaper to transport an apartment full of furniture from Athens to Brussels, than two blocks within Athens. The ports of Piraeus and Thessaloniki, which should be cash cows, until recently generated very little revenue for a cash-starved government.

In 2012 the Chinese government signed a 35 year lease half of the Piraeus docks. The turnaround is remarkable.

These stories reflect the kinds of reforms the EU is insisting upon, and the Greek government has been resisting. Without them, Greece is ungovernable and will continue to lose its best and brightest to the west, as it has for centuries.

Here’s a relevant piece from my most recent travel book, describing my lunch with a brilliant Greek doctor and researcher. (read it here!)

Best regards,

Pascal

Pascal Dennis Bio

Reflections of a Business Nomad – 2 Year Anniversary

By Pascal Dennis

Time is jet plane, it moves too fast. Bob Dylan

It flies indeed, no?

Two years ago Reflections of a Business Nomad was published

A storybook – the adventures of a Lean sensei (such as I am) in the world’s hot spots.

Twenty years now in this line of work...

Anyhow, I like the book & hope it brings a smile & a nod.

Here’s a favoured piece, Heavy Metal, set in the American heartland during difficult times. (LINK to PDF)

Safe travels & best regards,

Pascal

Pascal Dennis Bio

Reflections of a Business Nomad Audio Book Now Available!

By Pascal Dennis

The past few decades I’ve kept a journal, trying to make sense of my experience.

Reflections of a Business Nomad, the resultant narrative, was published last year.

Your response has been very kind.

So last fall I went into the recording studio. Good fun with sound engineers and musicians.

Happy to say, the Reflections audiobook is now available!

Hope you like it.

Here’s a sample.

Best regards,

Pascal

Pascal Dennis Bio

Airline Hell

By Pascal Dennis

The World's Worst Industry?

Earlier this month, my friend & co-conspirator, Al Norval, posted a fine blog entitled "Lean and the Airline Industry -- Help Please!"

A while back, a major business magazine asked readers to share their "Worst Airline Experience Ever".

There was, needless to say, an 'embarrassment of riches'.

(The only comparable question I can think of is "Who is the most horrible person in Hollywood?")

As ever, in you're so inclined, please feel free to share your own horror stories with us.

Finally, attached for your amusement, is a crispy airline piece from Reflections of a Business Nomad.

Happy, ahem, travels

PDF attachment is Here

Best,

Pascal

Homework Contest Winners!

By Pascal Dennis

Last month we held our first Lean Pathways Homework Contest.

The assignment was to draw a picture/doodle of the following:

Each team member, team, department and/or site in my zone of control are working with energy & commitment toward a shared goal.

As our regular readers will know, we strongly believe in drawing out complex ideas.

Translating a complex concept thus, helps us lock it in & make it our own.

Brain imaging shows that when we doodle thus, our entire brain lights up like a Christmas tree! We encourage you to practice.

Anyhow, our contest had an excellent response.

From Vishal M.

From Paul S.

From Lorna P.

From Michal R.

I'm pleased to announce that there are four winners - their drawings are attached, in no particular order. (Nice work.)

Our winners will all receive a signed copy of Reflections of a Business Nomad, yours truly's latest book.

Thanks to all who participated. If you didn't win this time, not to worry.

This was fun & we'll do it again.

Best regards,

Pascal

Why a Book of Stories?

By Pascal Dennis

My latest book, Reflections of a Business Nomad, has triggered thoughtful questions:

Why take a risk with something so different?

(Accepted thinking: Business readers won't read stories!)

Why a reflective book?

(Accepted thinking: Business readers want answers -- not questions!)

Isn't this kind of book, with its original artwork & design, expensive to produce?

(You won't make any money!)

Here's my response:

It's important to take risks.

My job is to push myself, (and you), out of our comfort zones.

Give without expecting a return.

I wrote Reflections out of pure enjoyment, without any expectation of a return.

When you send things out into the universe, I believe it repays you -- often with compound interest!

Challenge the norm.

Life is short -- challenge accepted thinking! Make a decision and follow through without fear of failure.

Respect people.

Are business readers incapable of reflecting deeply? Do they 'just want answers'?

I don't buy it. All my books are full of questions & reflection points, yet nobody has ever complained.

On the contrary, people form study groups.

Hansei -- self-reflection with humility & a commitment to improve -- is central to Japanese culture & to the Toyota Production System.

Hopefully, Reflections of a Business Nomad can help in some small way.

Pascal

Pascal answers questions about his latest book.

"The poet-laureate of travelling consultants..." - Businessweek

Book reviews:

"Full of great stories..."

"Easy to read, full of humor and wit..."

"A refreshing turn from a respected Lean sensei."

Best,

Pascal

Doing the Right Things vs. Doing Things Right

By Pascal Dennis

Effectiveness versus Efficiency - an eternal challenge.

Those of us who've grown up in manufacturing naturally lean toward to latter.

We know how to do things right - how to reduce waste & thereby, Lead Time.

As Taiichi Ohno famously said, "All we're trying to do is reduce Lead Time."

It takes a lifetime to learn how to do this, (at least for me.)

Efficiency - (Execution, Operational Excellence, call it what you will) - often trumps everything.

But not always.

What if Efficiency is not the constraint?

Can you think of any examples of value streams that are inefficient, but still fabulously successful?

(Hint: IPod, IPhone, IPad...)

Are Apple's value streams the most efficient? Is the IPad, for example, as well built, as, say, a Toyota Corolla?

(If you have teenage daughters, as I do, you may already know the answer. Try dropping your IPad a few times!)

But Apple's design is so transcendent, it doesn't matter. When Steve Jobs unveiled the IPad, everybody wanted one.

Price and robustness were not an issue. In other words, here, Effectiveness trumps Efficiency.

Don't want to be misunderstood. I am not saying that Efficiency is of no consequence. Quite the contrary.

In fact, Samsung's combination of strong design plus robust manufacturing is challenging Apple.

The combination allows Samsung launch multiple products, cull the losers, and double down on the winners.

Please reflect on these ideas - in Strategy, above all.

(As I said, manufacturing mental models tend to lean in one direction.)

A common, subtle failure mode is focusing on Efficiency, when it's not the constraint.

Best regards,

Pascal

PS Reflections of a Business Nomad - the audiobook is in progress!

We're in the recording studio now. Keep you posted. Thanks for your encouragement.

Alpha & Omega - Reprise 2

By Pascal Dennis

I recently gave a talk to senior health care executives.

Admissions & Triage were common concerns.

How do we get better at these crucial first steps in our value stream?

Their concern is apt.

As the old Greek proverb goes, "When the first thing goes wrong, everything goes wrong."

I suggested they study the Quick Service Restaurant (QSR) industry.

Here's a piece from Reflections of a Business Nomad that explains why. [Here]

Best regards,

Pascal

Voice America Interview - Reflections of a Business Nomad

By Pascal Dennis

Dr. Cathy Greenburg & Dr. Relly Nadler have done fine leadership research for years now.

They also have a fine weekly radio show called Voice America.

Recently, they interviewed your faithful Business Nomad. Listen to the interview here.

Good people, enjoyable interview.

Best,

Pascal

Poetry for Professionals?

By Pascal Dennis

Splendid piece in HBR - thanks to Holly Simmons for sharing it.

Let me declare my bias in advance.

I was trained in business and engineering - and have been a reader all my life.

(And my latest book comprises stories & poems from the road, www.reflections-of-a-business-nomad.com)

Poetry & literature:

• open the mind,
• help us wrestle with & make sense of complexity,
• help unlock latent creativity, and
• teach empathy.

Not a bad ROI!

In some cultures, it's understood that "professional" means you have a deep understanding & appreciation of Art, as well as, Science.

Professionals, in such cultures, are expected to read & reflect, and this makes them better leaders.

(They are better able to wrestle with complexity, and are more empathetic & creative.)

Is this the norm in our culture?

I'd love to hear YOUR thoughts.

The best leaders I've encountered are tough, reflective, creative READERS - many the product of Military schools.

The Military teaches important virtues, reading & reflection among them.

Best,

Pascal Dennis reads from Reflections of a Business Nomad

By Pascal Dennis

A book is a footprint in time, a ship you send off into the night, not knowing what will happen.

Last October we launched my latest book, Reflections of a Business Nomad - Stories & Poems from the Road.

The setting was Avli Restaurant in the heart of Toronto's Greektown.

Here's a short video from that fine night, a reading by yours truly of the book's opening piece, "Meeting Buzz Aldrin in Fort Worth".

Thanks to all our friends who turned out!

Best regards

Pascal

PS Here are photos of places from the book: Pinterest

The Importance of Being There

By Pascal Dennis

Reflections of a Business Nomad - E-book now available

You get off a 12-hour flight at some Asian or European or South American airport and turn on the iPhone. Instead of taking in what's there, you're flooded with e-mails. The media tells us we're lucky, but haven't we created a hell for ourselves?

The real adventure of travel is mental. You have to be there. But nowadays everything works against that kind of presence – smartphones, pads, the e-mail barrage. Instead of focusing on the landscape, conversation, atmosphere, we're gone...

Reflections of a Business Nomad chronicles what I've seen & felt these past dozen years as an international consultant. Happy to tell you that the E-book is now available on Amazon.com and other providers. Clicking on reflections-of-a-business-nomad.com will also get you to the order page.

(Very kind feedback so far)

Reflections of a Business Nomad is also book about Leadership and Ethics. Should leaders read stories and poems? I hope so. Leadership requires imagination, empathy, and the ability to make sense of complex realities. The best leaders I know all read & reflect. The very best leaders are story-tellers.

Travel is linear – one place, one landscape, one conversation at a time. Hyper-connectivity dilutes the intensity of travel. Multi-tasking hinders the development of personal connections to local people and places. So let's turn our screens off. Let's look around, let's talk to the cabbie, make friends with the bartender. Let's be present.

Best regards,

Pascal

Reflections of a Business Nomad - Book Launch Party

By Pascal Dennis

Friday Oct 19, Avli Restaurant, Toronto's Greektown

A fine evening - thanks to all who came out, and to Lambros, proprietor of Avli and chef extraordinaire.

Special thanks to Holly Simmons, Steve MacLeod and the Skopelos Press team for making it possible.

A book is a footprint in time, a ship that you send off into the night, not knowing what will happen.

I'm gratified that so many friends turned out to mark the occasion.



Here's a short Launch video, a reading by yours truly, of one my favorite pieces from Reflections of a Business Nomad.

Best regards,

Pascal

PS E-book is in the pipeline and should be available on Amazon.com by the end of November.

PS 2 Here are photos of places from the book: Pinterest.

Greece, Part 3 - What To Do?

By Pascal Dennis

In parts 1 & 2 of this series I described my sense of Greece's problems.

I wondered why people of Greek descent are so prosperous and successful, once they leave Greece.

I described some of my personal experiences.

(My granddad, Pascali, arrived in America at Ellis Island in January 10, 1921, but we still have family in the old country.)

What to do?

I posed this same question to a very gifted Greek in the ancient lake city of Ioannina.

Attached is his response, in an excerpt from my latest book, Reflections of a Business Nomad - Stories & Poems from the Road. [Click here for the excerpt]

What do you think of his response?

Best regards,

Pascal

PS Reflections of a Business Nomad is available for pre-ordering.

Just click on: reflections-of-a-business-nomad.com

Pascal

Reflections - ready for pre-order

By Pascal Dennis

Reflections of a Business Nomad - Stories & Poems from the Road is ready for pre-ordering!

Clicking on reflections-of-a-business-nomad.com will get you there.

Something a little different, and hopefully, fun and engaging.

Why did I write such a book?

I'm proud to be an engineer & businessperson (such as I am).

But first & foremost, I'm a story-teller, and these stories reflect twelve years of international consulting.

The book is illustrated with original artwork by the great Kirk Sutterfield, a splendid Canadian artist and draftsman.

Some people believe business is dry, analytical & somewhat boring.

Not true!

I've been privileged to observe & experience high drama, tragedy and comedy, often all at the same time.

Each story finds its own format -- some is straight prose, some prose poetry.

I've tried to make each piece as easy to absorb as possible and to find the 'right words in the right sequence'.

The book's five sections all end with a series of questions, for use by study groups.

You can dig into these if so inclined, or simply read the pieces for themselves.

Reflections of a Business Nomad is a book about values and leadership.

But it can also be enjoyed as a story book & travelogue.

Hope you like the damned thing.

Best,

Pascal Reflections - ready for pre-order

Reflections of a Business Nomad - Update

By Pascal Dennis

My next book will be released October 15.

Something a little different, hopefully fun & engaging.

My earlier books have been prescriptive: "Here's how you do X..."

Reflections, by contract, is a contemplative book

"Here's what I've seen these past twelve years, flying around the world, teaching the Toyota Way."

Why did I write such a book?

I know some great stories & want to share them.

(Korean BBQ at Port Suez as a 10,000 TEU container ship floats by...)

I'd also like to help people, (myself included), SLOW DOWN...

The SLOW movement folks have it right - slowmovement.com

Each piece is best read out loud and slowly.

Mainly though, I wrote it because I wanted to.

Hope you like the damned thing.

skopelospress.com

Cheers,

Pascal

Upcoming Book by Pascal Dennis

By Pascal Dennis

Reflections of a Business Nomad - Stories & Poems from the Road

I'm thrilled to announce a new book coming out in June.

As you may know, I make my living on the road, teaching the Toyota Way.

An odd life, perhaps, but one I’ve chosen and very much enjoy.

To help make sense of all I've seen and experienced these past twelve years, I've kept a journal.

Hundreds of pieces written in airports, restaurants, and hotel bars.

Leafing through my notes these past few years, I realized there might be a book here.

So I polished and organized the best pieces.

What's Reflections of a Business Nomad about?

It's a book of stories reflecting the exotic, exhilarating, and sometimes poignant, world of international consulting.

Leadership & ethics is a core theme: people in tough situations, doing the right (& wrong) things.

The book is a departure.

Up until now, my books have been prescriptive: "Here's how you do X..."

For example, here's how you transform a struggling auto plant -- (Andy & Me).

Or, here's how you transform an entire auto platform -- (The Remedy).

Reflections, by contrast, is a decidedly non-prescriptive book.

As always, I ask plenty of questions, but leave the answers to the reader.

(My publisher asked, "Are you sure business readers will respond to stories & questions? Usually, they usually want answers.")

I guess you'll let us know...

Target launch date: June 4, 2012

More to come.

Cheers,

Pascal