Strategic Doing

Chapter 5LINK AND LEVERAGE ASSETS TO IDENTIFY NEW OPPORTUNITIES (SKILL 4)

In the previous chapter, we discussed the power of uncovering hidden assets, both in yourself and in others, and we alluded to an old adage of improvisational theater, “bring a brick, not a cathedral.” In this chapter, we offer another lesson from improv. “Yes, and” is considered the first rule of improvisation. In an improvisational skit, it means that when a fellow performer offers something – a line, for instance – the other performers accept the line as stated. That's the “yes” part. Then another actor expands on it. That's the “and.” For example, suppose one person started an improvised scene by saying, “Can you believe Maria is just dropping everything and headed to Australia for three months?” The next person would accept that as fact in the scene and build on it; they might continue the story with, “Yes, and apparently she's had a lifelong interest in learning to play the digeridoo.” The story would continue with each performer accepting what has come before and building on it. There is no way to tell where the story of Maria will end up.

Agile leaders not only uncover hidden assets, they also see how different assets could be linked, leveraged, and aligned, and can help others see that potential as well. A mere list of assets is not enough. The magic happens when assets get combined.¹ Combining assets can create new value that is greater than the combined value of the parts. Doing so is a skill; ...