Success impulse: Are you moving in zigzags? That's it!
Inspired by a somewhat unconventionally designed bike path in Berlin, our columnist Volkmar Völzke had a few thoughts. Here is another impulse for success.
The other day a funny incident went through the net: In Berlin, a bike lane was built in such a way that it is almost impossible to follow the lane and avoid pedestrians (see the picture). We find this kind of thing fun, because it doesn't fit in at all with the perfectionism we see elsewhere, especially in Germany and Switzerland. And because it also excuses us for our own shortcomings.
How could this happen, despite the many rules and regulations? Or is it perhaps just therefore happening? Here's my point: you probably have various such metaphorical cycle paths in your company (and in yourself, too). And that doesn't even have to be a bad thing, quite the opposite. Here are three reasons to even actively enable such outcomes:
- Risk culture. It is positive that action was taken at all. Otherwise, such plans can often languish in the offices for years because some guidelines get in the way. This is the reflection of a risk culture in companies: If you take action, you're going to make mistakes. We learn from this. That's a good thing! Many innovative companies even reward the biggest failures.
- Ausbaden. I see time and again that those who come up with great processes never apply them themselves. Most companies could become much more productive if the managers really experienced what is going on "out in the trenches" (not only on bicycle paths). "Get out to the front" is the motto, at least from time to time.
- Zigzagging. Sometimes the zigzag course is better than none at all. Many stay so long in the starting blocks that the others are already at the finish even with headwind and zigzagging. And at least they provide a funny example for the world, like here with the bike path.
Here's a hint: In the next meeting, let your team draw their own conclusions from the zigzag velo path. Let's see if they also come up with such positive ideas as mentioned above - or if they rather talk about it with amusement.
It is clear which of these behaviors enable greater openness and performance. A true winning team culture reliably delivers top performance, even when zigzagging.
To the author:
Volkmar Völzke is a success maximizer. Book author. Consultant. Coach. Speaker. www.volkmarvoelzke.ch
