Yesterday, I had to conduct one of my favourite behavioural change exercises over the phone – not something I have done before. I was in grey and rainy Stockport and the rest of the team were in hot and sunny Ghana (where did I go wrong there…)

A key part of our current Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) implementation is to understand the behaviour that exists today and recognise the behaviour of the team we are striving to be. Joining the dots between today and tomorrow and usually more entertaining the senior team and the workers!

To do this we create totem poles – a fantastic way of using symbolism to communicate. Somehow, it is easier to tell your bosses that they are jaguars than to directly tell them they are chaotic and shape shifting.

We have done this exercise in the UK, Australia, Indonesia, Thailand and Nigeria so far and despite the cultural differences when the teams think about each other today, the same animals pop up:

Senior Teams

Elephant, lion, moose, mouse, goose, salmon, tiger, whale & jaguar.

Key words = strong, powerful, wise, headstrong, enduring, observant, detail orientated, reliable, self demanding, productive, prudent, proud, intense, inspiring, energetic, chaotic & shape shifting.

Workers

Ant, armadillo, bee, dog, rabbit & mouse.

Key words = group minded, patient, active, industrious, celebratory, enthusiastic about life, safety orientated, cautious, faithful, loyal, trainable, fearful, timid, nervous, observant, orderly & detail orientated)

The interesting differences come through in consistency; in Africa there are more dogs (noble, faithful, loyal, trainable, protective & guiding). In SEA lots of ants (group minded, patient, active and industrious) and most interestingly of all in the UK, despite a period of doom and gloom lots of BEES (organised, industrious, productive, wise, social, celebratory and enthusiastic about life).

Beekeepers Association (BBKA) says bees are in danger of disappearing from our environment. Attitudes to bees must change and a new generation needs to be educated into the value of bees and the threats to their existence.

As the green shoots appear that signal the end of the recession, we need to remember bees need something to feed on, whether it be a PLM implementation, training or new product development. Don’t be a rabbit (fearful, timid, and nervous) today be a falcon – ADVENTUROUS, PASSIONATE AND LEADING!