"Connecting the dots" - three exercises that will improve your ability to see "the big picture".

In innovation and business development, the phrase “connecting the dots” is often used as a metaphor to describe somebody’s ability to associate different ideas or to create “the big picture”. Steve Jobs picked up on this in a speech back in 2005: “You can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you will have to trust that the dots somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something….”

Of course, every entrepreneur knows that trust, gut-feel or karma is absolutely important in the decision making process! But not everybody is a born entrepreneur! And as the research of experts like Professor Gerd Gigerenzer shows, instead of trusting the gut and taking the lead, decision makers in the corporate world seem to increasingly support their decision making with endless loops of internal alignments, extensive in-depth analysis and/or the advice of costly external consultants. Yet, as we are living in times of increased uncertainty and complexity, the ability to make (the right) decisions in a timely fashion seems to be a differentiator. The question is, how do you make such decisions, if even the most thorough in-depth research may lead to inconclusive and ambiguous results? I guess this brings us either back to endless alignments, external consultants or to Steve Jobs. From a personal perspective, and after drafting countless business plans, I would argue that Mr Jobs' twenty year old advice is at least as relevant today: you have to trust in something. But I also believe that you can be proactive about it: you can train your instincts, develop your trust and improve your ability to “connect the dots” by incorporating the following exercises into your daily routine:? ?

1. Inspire yourself, and create more awareness of your surroundings. Before you are able to connect the dots, you need to be able to collect what may be worth connecting. As Mr Jobs said, the trouble is that you actually do not know today what may be important tomorrow. The one thing you can do today though is to train your sense of observation and submit them to your (subconscious) memory. To do so, I use a very simple exercise: Once a day, I stop with what I am doing, and make a 360 degree turn, turning slowly on the spot. In doing so, I? simply observe (and sometimes memorise) what I see! If I see something interesting, I hold for a moment and reflect on it. This could be an interesting object or somebody doing something. I have started to do this kind of in-situ visual scan when I was a young geologist running exploration projects in the African bush. At the time, it was kind of life saving not to be too focused on the rocks, but also keep an eye on the wildlife. And for a field geologist, observing the landscape is in the end the only way to connect the dots (or in this case observation points) on the geological map. Today, I apply basically the same technique when I scout for new technologies. I find it incredibly helpful to distil information and it certainly helps to develop innovative solutions or connect people that otherwise would not have been connected. The key for this kind of exercise is to observe, and not to search with a specific purpose. Often in life, the dots that need connecting do not come to you at the same time or when you are looking for them. They come to you in the weirdest moments. And as said, you may not know at the time that you are looking at something that may be important in the future. In a very unscientific way, this exercise helps you to add “vocabulary” and load your memory in a very relaxed and playful way.

2. Develop your imagination. In the 80s, physicist Richard P. Feynman recorded a series of videos titled “Fun to Imagine”, in which he mused about the nature of science. He often referred to science as the “joy to imagining things”. The idea is simple: if you have a strong imagination, you are obviously capable of executing multiple thought experiments in a very short time. During my time at Anglo American, I was fortunate to work with Clem Sunter. He wrote a book about scenario planning called “The Mind of a Fox”. The fox, as opposed to the hedgehog, stands for an animal that is capable to adapt to its surroundings by running through different scenarios, taking in the world with all its interdependencies and complexities.?It has become clear, that a great imagination or the ability to develop scenarios quickly is not only an important skill for scientists. It also benefits entrepreneurs, negotiators and sales people alike. And of course it is absolutely vital for innovators, whose job is to imagine the world of tomorrow.? The easiest way to incorporate “imagining” into your daily routine is to ask yourself the question “What if…..?”. Equally, you could consciously observe somebody doing a task and imagine “How would that person do the same job in ten years from now?”. In conversations with others, you could try to empathise with your counterpart by reflecting on “What does the person likely think?” or anticipating “How would the person react if I make a certain statement?”. I know, this sounds so very basic, but be honest: when last did you ask yourself any of above questions consciously? The key is to really incorporate it all the time, until it becomes part of your subconscious routine!

3. Play more and experiment. Following observing and imagining, you need to get into playful action. We all know that in childhood, in music and in sport “playing” is an important part of the learning process. Why is it then so rarely a KPI in business? I would encourage you to proactively include “playing” and “experimenting” in your daily work schedule, too. This could be simply changing routines on your way to work: take a different route, a different mode of transport and en route stop to observe your new surroundings. You could also try something new at work. Or you could simply venture where you have not ventured before. At a corporate event, you could for instance choose not to join your regular team at the dinner table, which is usually the comfortable option. Instead, sit with a customer that you have not yet met. At a conference, make it a habit to approach at least one new person in each break. Simply try to do something different every day.

I once was fortunate enough to attend a masterclass of Grammy award winner and pianist Robert Glasper. Back then, he had already won two Grammys, and when he was asked for the secret of his success, he said: “First, I say “F… it” more often! And then, I will make sure that I get my butt kicked at least once a day!” I think this really sums it up nicely: Don’t do things simply because others expect that you do them. And proactively get out of your own comfort zone and expose yourself to new learnings. Speaking about his creative process, he said he would simply record any, even the smallest, (musical) idea, anytime. I checked, and as of today, Mr Glasper has won five Grammy’s and two nominations pending for 2024. Seems that his recipe for success is working!

No exercise delivers sustainable results if you are not rigorous in implementing it. The key to all of the above is to consciously incorporate it in your daily activities and, from time to time, reflect on what it is doing to you. Your brain “connecting the dots” often seems coincidental. But I am sure above routines help to prepare the mysterious mental pathways from which great ideas develop. You can of course also incorporate these exercises in your work teams, your club or your family. Doing it with intent and purpose and reflecting afterwards in the team makes this not only fun, but gives you different perspectives and empowers your team. And, I am sure, it will improve your own ability to connect the dots, see the big picture, and to create the future!

If you want to learn more or have a comment, feel free to reach out to me!