Paying attention to the world

Wonder

Have you ever asked people what your greatest strength is? In a world where 360-degree feedback is the norm, it’s rare that people emerge from those processes with that insight, but I do encourage you to ask.

I do, sometimes, and I hear a range of things: ability to synthesise complex material, ability to bring diverse interests into a unified whole, reframe contributions so people feel their observation is of value. But, I’ve now heard something three times, which makes it a pattern. (Once is a one-off, twice is a coincidence, but three times . . . ).

It’s something like this: “Andrew, you bring a sense of wonder to our work, which sparks enthusiasm and excitement amongst us”.

As father of a 13yo, I’m well acquainted with wonder: Jasper recently called me over excitedly to show me how the stick he was swishing through the air made a ‘whoosh’ sound (yes, I know, he’s a city kid). The other night he wanted to know whether combining leftover plain pasta from dinner with plums from the fruitbowl would result in a sweet or savoury dish (I can tell you, it’s a weird, but quite appetising combination of the two). But, the expression on his face was priceless, as he brought a perfectly spiralled pile of pink pasta topped with plum slices and reduced berry compote to the table.

Why do people point out my own wonder? I think it’s because it dissipates with time: for many people, cynicism or indifference has set in by middle age, and the capacity for wonder, for curiosity, and joy in discovery, has evaporated.

Question: What can you do to recapture joy and wonder in your people?

De-risking practical experience

When I was 15, around 40 years ago, it was?de rigeur?to cut up rats. Not for fun, you understand, but as part of biology prac. I can’t recall one bit of what this taught me, but I do recall throwing rat parts out of an upper floor window onto the heads of unsuspecting students and teachers. Great fun.

A director of a client organisation was originally a teacher and is now involved in national science education policy. She told me that education is being de-risked not only by banning actual dissections of actual animals, but by a decline in practical experimentation generally.

Another friend’s 15yo wants to do practical work experience in connection with one of her passions: environmental science. Thing is, Maddy literally wants to get dirt under her nails and, guess what? The three organisations I’ve canvassed for her, which all have significant environmental portfolios, won’t allow a work experience student ‘in the field’.

It got me wondering: What are we missing, by NOT allowing people (kids especially) to ‘get their hands dirty’?

Question: What should you encourage your staff to learn through practical experimentation?

This shouldn’t have worked

Do you know what this is? If you do, what is its use?

WD-40 is a solvent that loosens rusted-on bolts and the product’s origin story is fabulous. It’s a product that should never have been invented, let alone become as popular as it has.

The year is 1953. Norm Larsen’s three-person Rocket Chemical Company was asked to create a water repellent for the surface of Atlas missiles. They succeeded on the 40th try (hence, the name, “Water Displacement on the 40th Attempt”) and they embarked on a multi-year contract.

But, Larsen noticed that Atlas employees were taking cans home with them, which gave him the idea of commercialising a retail product, by packaging it in aerosol cans. Then, their real genius was in?not?patenting the recipe, because if they did, it would expire in 25 years allowing anyone to make it.

To this day, it’s as closely kept a secret as Coca-Cola or Colonel Sanders’ chicken and by the 1970s the product?became?the company, with a valuation today of over $1b and more than 2000 documented uses of the product.?

Question:?What ‘best kept secret’ are you — or your organisation — capable of that could be more widely popularised?

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I’ll be back with you next Friday so, until then, have a week enjoying the wonders of our planet, and your community.

Andrew