It’s all Good!
How many times have you heard this statement and wondered what it really meant?
Maybe when we hear this phrase we need to think about what it implies and whether we should probe a little further. It is a simple platitude that may or may not have additional meaning. Understanding this point is important. How often do we use empty phrases to describe our business?
A platitude is a statement that’s used so often, it sounds dull or trite instead of interesting, thoughtful or helpful. When someone is coping with a life problem, a platitude is the typical reaction of another person who has nothing genuinely heartfelt or sympathetic to say. It helps fill the silence in an uncomfortable conversation, and can be a very an indirect way of letting people know they should look elsewhere for meaningful dialogue.
Interestingly, leaders and employees use platitudes to describe their business all the time without realizing it. But the stakeholders notice. They see the emptiness in the words.There is a great article in the Harvard Business Review by Greg McKeown, “If I Read One More Platitude-Filled Mission Statement, I’ll Scream”. McKeown point in the end is clear.
“Achieving strategic clarity is hard. It takes asking tough questions about tradeoffs, deep concentration to get to the very essence of the issues and real courage to cut off competing priorities. It is worth the effort because with real clarity, people, teams and organizations can fully mobilize, break through to the next level and achieve something truly great,” Says McKeown.
Having spent a lot of time working on the strategic plans and actionable roadmaps of many companies I am overly familiar with the rhetoric used to inspire people. The best solution is to be more meaningful and purposeful in your use of business words that provide direction. Achieving this is a process and hard work. It requires commitment.
‘It’s all Good’ has many meanings. It is a platitude that sums up what stakeholders may think about your words; sometimes good, sometimes bad and sometimes indifferent. We have to wonder what business leaders mean by the phrases they use and the way they are interpreted by their stakeholders. Clarity of focus is a challenge to create but a necessity. But maybe, it’s all good.
Question: What platitudes are you using to describe your business?
I was standing in a hallway chatting to a CEO who just came off holidays. So I asked what’s do you think is on the minds of business leaders this time of year? It is mid August, he said, and business goals are emerging. I think Business leaders are thinking it is time to start getting back to work.
Recently while mountain biking we came across a pump track; a continuous circuit of small dirt hills and jumps that loops back on itself, allowing you to ride it continuously. A couple of teenagers took the time to explain how to use it and teach us a few lessons. The key they said was momentum. 
Recently when working with a client we had to do that. The teams became stalled due to a business announcement around cost cutting. Suddenly the teams did not know what they should do or work on. Everything they do have associated costs. In this situation we applied a simple rule; make a decision, make a plan, make it happen. The point was to help the teams refocus on what was important.
