Dealing with Limited Resources - 2

Solving the Problem Together

If you know things are tight and there’s very little in the pot, then you may have to preface your meeting by saying

I’m afraid there isn’t a lot available and that we all have to make do.

Don’t be afraid to do this. Don’t apologise. People understand what making-do is all about. It’s how you go about it that counts.

Don’t be downcast or pouty. Lead by positive example.

Next, get out a flip chart for a brain storming session.

Write out the Vision of what you all want to achieve.

If you haven’t got a flip chart then write it large on a piece of A4 so people can see it.

Write out your assets and Enablers

Include Our Creativity as one of the assets

Forget about the Blockers for now. Identifying with the problems won’t help right at this moment.

Ask everyone How do we get from A to B? How do we get from today to our Vision?

Invite ideas. Write all the ideas down.

Encourage people to think outside the box.

For example

Don’t worry if an idea seems daft. Say it all the same.

Some of the best ideas started off as “space cadet thinking” that would cost millions.

The truth is that it’s often the daft idea that acts as the spark to ignite the Good Idea that you’re all searching for.

The best ideas often start out as daft ideas.

By taking this approach you’ll soon see that before long you’ve a pool of possibilities, and a roomful of people tossing ideas into the hat.

If you can’t make something out of all this collective positive intelligence then there’s something wrong with you.

Here are a number of approaches you can take, all of which can help lead to the Great Idea on few resources.

• Solve a small problem or a small part of the current problem

• Solve two small problems

• Think of a new way to do things even if it isn’t quite practical. Indulge the idea.

• Make sure everyone chips in an idea - go round the room in turn.

• Ask everyone to think of a new Enabler or a new solution to a Blocker

• Don’t assume that just because a thing is always done a certain way that it’s the best way.

• Be prepared to toss out the current received wisdom if it doesn’t fit.

• Focus on essentials that will Enable the Vision. Avoid getting lost in Blockers or unimportant details.

The solution will soon appear.

It always does if people are willing for it to happen, and willing to try.

Exercise 24:

If the going is tough and there’s no money or resources, then start by being honest with people that there isn’t much to play with.

Get everyone involved in looking for a great idea.

Try making sense of daft ideas.

Try solving little bits of your problem.

How many of your meetings does this approach currently apply to?

> Chapter 3 - Before the Meeting