Been stuck in traffic jam recently? I was just yesterday and maybe you were too. I bet it wasn't like the one in China, but I'll get to that in a minute. Let's say you're in a traffic snarl on the outerbelt freeway - yeh the one that's supposed to save you time. Your trip normally takes you 20 minutes even in rush hour. Today, though, in that same twenty minutes you've covered, well, you can still see the on ramp in your rear view mirror. How do you feel? Anxious? Frustrated? Angry?
Now, That's A Jam!
Now imagine being in a traffic jam that would last . . . a month! According to the Associated Press this is happening right now just outside Beijing, China due to construction. This is a whopper of a traffic planning snafu. How did authorities not know this would happen . . . or did they? Cars are lined up for 60 miles!! for Pete's sake, certainly no one would do that on purpose . . . or would they? There is no indication that anyone is surprised by it. The authorities have only offered, quite unemotionally that the construction will complete by the middle of September.
Let me ask you...how long would you last?
What would you think about?
You've got a problem - if you are stuck in traffic that only moves a 1/2 a mile a day - I think I can push my car that far in a day - that has to be solved. You are no longer thinking about getting to the market or what you're going to say in your sales pitch - you've got to survive. And this isn't a problem you can solve on your own unless you just happen to have a months worth of three square meals in your trunk. You need somebody who has access to solutions you don't have.
What if some enterprising person saw the gridlock, did a few calculations in his head, loaded up his cart with Big Mac's and Bottled Water and decided to hop the fence and bring it to you - at a premium! This is exactly what is happening in Beijing. People are carting cups of noodles and water to the stranded drivers and making a nice profit. Some complain about this, and I see their point...sort of. Look, life is tough and you need solutions.
Opportunities In The Middle Of Problems
When times get really tough, opportunities are created for enterprising, creative people to solve problems in a way others can't. But if you're in the middle of the problem you may be the least likely to see solutions. Many management theorists that haven't actually gotten stuck in anything but an elevator will tell you that this is the time for you to see the opportunity in the problem. I would say it's true, but you may need to get help from outside your sphere. The guy stuck in traffic is continually looking for a way out and focusing on how very jammed up they are. Problem is, there may not be a way out, but a way through that someone else must provide.
Tight As Ticks
Where will you get help from? From whom do you gain a different perspective? I once heard an executive say that for a long time he didn't expect any really imaginative thinking from his team because they were 'tight as ticks.' Now, I am not sure how tight a group of ticks really are, but one thing is for sure; it wasn't a compliment. So, break out of your little tick groupthink, widen your thinking sphere three ways:
1. Actually Ask Your Peers For Ideas. There is a common thought among businesses and people that are experts in their field (or, have at least done it a long time) that you can only get valuable input from someone who knows what it's like to do your job in your industry. I will tell you that Marketing has some thoughts about Operations that might really make a difference to clients. Finance (oh, here we go) will likely have some quite pragmatic and useful thoughts for you to consider - and if they're any good it won't be followed by "...and you can't have any budget to do it." Silo thinking still exists and it's a terrible loss of creativity and solutions.
2. Join Industry Groups - And Get Ideas From People. I think this is most likely to happen away from the formal presentations. Nothing makes people feel better - rightly - than being asked their opinion about something you are struggling with. Buy them dinner after the day's formal program and ask them three pointed questions about a hypothetical situation. This might be difficult - and maybe improper - to do with a competitor, but suppliers and business partners will gladly help. Remember, these people are sitting in a different spot of the value chain and may well see things you don't - so ask.
3. Talk to Your Customers. Go ahead, they will not bite.... Okay, maybe they will and it might leave a mark. But that mark will forever remind you that the single greatest source of innovation and ideas is the same group of people that are paying the bills today. Many people, and oddly, some companies are scared to death to talk with their customers. Some of the greatest insights that I've used to solve problems for multiple customers came out of difficult conversations with clients about products and services we were delivering to them. They will tell you - and that's better than just telling everyone at the next industry get together.
