Execution: Solving the Gordian Knot with Subtlety, and Without a Blade
Description
The Gordian Knot is a legend associated with Alexander the Great, and is often used as a metaphor for an intractable problem solved by finding an approach to the problem that renders moot the problem's perceived constraints.
Legend holds that Alexander the Great "solved" the knot by simply using his sword to cut it, and for generations and as it pertains to execution, the use of kinetic violence has passed for wisdom, typically the bigger the better.
But what if there were such a thing as a knot made of a material that resists cutting?
And what if the knot itself were contrived in such a manner that attempts to sever its cords through violent means only made it stronger?
Finally, how do we solve this "knot" while juggling all the other things in our already busy lives? Kids, families, work, personal life, etc?
Discussed: how does one fix a truck while it continues driving, so to speak?
In this discussion, Ruth Glendinning (Founder, Future Story Lab) and Kent Dahlgren (CEO, 214 Alpha) describe a third way, rooted in real-world examples, and deliver an easy-to-remember recipe for high-functioning "holons" (small, autonomous teams), using language widely understood across industries, domains, and cultures, summarized as:
- Create a core "holon" of three complementary personality types
- Declare and maintain a singleness of purpose
- Invest in the regular, ongoing creation and maintenance of a shared work product through brief "sprints" or releases
- Philosophies and beliefs (various)
United States
