Читать книгу Will there be Donuts?: Start a business revolution one meeting at a time - David Pearl - Страница 26

In the quintessential heist film Ocean’s Eleven (2001), Danny (George Clooney) asks Rusty, the fixer character played by Brad Pitt, what he thinks is required to pull off the impossible casino robbery. Brad doesn’t answer what, but who. “Off the top of my head, I’d say you’re looking at a Boeski, a Jim Brown, a Miss Daisy, two Jethros and a Leon Spinks, not to mention the biggest Ella Fitzgerald ever.”

The lesson is simple. If you are attempting something ambitious—and changing meeting culture is definitely that—then you need a diverse crew that’s as determined (or insane) as you are. “Find hungry Samurai,” as they say in Kurosawa’s film The Seven Samurai.

Dorothy needed the Tin Man, Scarecrow, Lion, assorted munchkins, a couple of fairies, and a small dog to make it to Oz. Gather some like-spirited but unlike-minded allies to join you on the adventure. People who share your irritation at the way meetings are held currently and who think sufficiently differently from you to make sure you come up with some unusual solutions.

Also, if you are in a corporate setting and you are not in a leadership position, ideally you should enroll someone who is, to provide a “license to operate” and some high-level “air cover” for when you do. I encourage clients to put a “dotted line” around a few months during which people have permission to try new things and, if necessary, make mistakes without reprisal.

This doesn’t mean you can’t operate solo, but all good 007s have their Ms to watch their backs and their Qs to provide them with the baddy-neutralizing pen and amphibious getaway car.