OK, What’s All This?

Not knowing the answers to these 10 simple questions can be fatal.

• You can answer them as YOU, YOUR project or YOUR company.

• Knowing them really well will give confidence in conversations, pitches, presentations and lots more besides.

• Hesitation to questions like these leads to quizzical looks, frowns, and the lack of belief (in us) by others — it just does.

• These questions tend to show up in a lot of conversation —a presentation, an interview or a relationship.

• It’s not about right or wrong answers - but about having given them real thought.

Simple InstructionS:

You don’t have to answer them at all.

• If you know the answer just move on.

• Ideally write a maximum of two or three sentences to answer each one. Iteration is good.

• People don’t find all of them easy — but see what you think.

• The answers to these lead to a further 10. You can’t answer the next ten before you know the answers to these.

• There’s no prize for answering them quickly - only honestly.

THE FIRST TEN

Let’s Get Cracking…

QUESTION ONE:

The journey you’ve taken so far contains important lessons that gave you critical qualities. Most of us take them for granted but they mark us out. Write them down.

• The drivers, experiences and forks in the road that established the bedrock everything rests on.

• The challenges that proved that you were on the right path.

• The lessons you learned that you will never forget that forged you, made the difference and made you you.

QUESTION TWO:

What do you believe?

• When asked what defines you, your values, ideals or beliefs - what springs to mind?

• What important principles/rules do you apply to how you approach every day - each project?

• What do you think are the qualities other people see in you? What are the top three?

QUESTION THREE:

The ultimate outcome of your passion and endeavour! What do you stand for?

• It gets called many things —objectives,  intentions, ambitions, goals — but what’s the highest order?

• Use any words or ideas you like but the right answer to this question will describe your dream.

• What do you want to be remembered for and what will be  the result of your overall achievement?

QUESTION FOUR:

What does the world need you to put right?

• Describe the challenge that inspires you to want to fix.

• The gap in the world and the market. The unmet need and the driver for the change you want to make?

• What really matters for you and the commitment you are prepared to make?

QUESTION FIVE:

What makes you stand out - what’s the signal amidst all the noise

• Why anyone will pay attention and remember you (or the project).

• The compelling proposition(s) that capture and then retain your audience’s imagination.

• Why anyone should care.

QUESTION SIX:

What are those niggling doubts — if any?

• Is there anything you daren’t admit about what you are doing and that needs to be put right?

• If you have any are you sure you have got to the root cause of them and …

• Is there another root cause (behind these) that’s causing them?

QUESTION SEVEN:

Not taking risks is the biggest of all risks.

• What are the biggest risks you are taking or are prepared to take?

• Can you describe your boundary of risk?

• Have you developed a framework, set of criteria for making the smartest choices?

QUESTION EIGHT:

It’s all about what we can make.

• If you were a #tag how would I search for you?

• Name your intellectual property - the unique skill, talent and utility that you have/bring.

• What else do I get in the box? What’s the full list of tools in the toolbox?

QUESTION NINE:

What’s the path that’s needed for the future?

• The sequence of tactics that will get us to the result. (Actions, Initiatives, Things)

• The plan that will be needed when the plan no longer works.

• How you plan to stay with ‘a plan’. How you stay honest and stay the course.

QUESTION TEN:

What’s the vision?

• I see a world where… (Complete the sentence)

• What really matters (for you) in the future?

Great Work!

If you feel further tests are your thing try the Group Partners assessment below.

This should help you and your business think things through as we try to emerge from the chaos of 2020.

The Strategic Coherence test was designed for business leaders to see how prepared their existing business is for the uncertain future.