I worked for a long time in a company where many people say is a “cult-like” place. Note that I put BOTH quotes and the descriptor “like” to ensure maximum protection from any slander charges on my part -- ie, I DIDN’T SAY IT, OTHER PEOPLE SAID IT (insert hyperlinks here).
While there are aspects that seem cult-like: a strange common lingo -- the aggressive verbing of nouns, the very specific use of “talk” -- as in, “Let’s talk this” and “As talked, this sends…” and using indexes to indicate any degree of anything -- as in, the second John Lloyd and Bea movie was only index 80 of the first one but parity in engagingness -- there are a lot of practices that I learned in that company that helps me to this very day and the best of that is a bias for actionability.
What is actionability? Essentially it is the quality of a thing that can change it if needs be. How is it used in practice? If you are showing your coworkers a key visual that is halfway done, you can say, “Okay the text and the background colors are actionable but the talent and the claim are no longer actionable.” Translation: “If you are going to comment on how the talent doesn’t look jazzed enough to use this fabric softener or doesn’t look Pan-Asian enough, SHUT YOUR PIE HOLE” This makes for quicker alignments and faster decisions. It’s like a leveled up version of “If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all.”
This is fantastic for meetings and even better for lunch options.
Imagine five to eight very opinionated eaters in a hurry to maximize the 1.5 hr lunch break -- let’s be honest guys, one hour is not enough for lunch in the Philippines -- and the perpetual question arises, WHERE DO WE EAT? Followed by the I-DON’T-KNOWs, and the forever KAYO-BAHALA-KAHIT-SAANs. Here is where the actionability game comes in.
The rules in theory:
First, someone, anyone, suggests a place
Protests ensue -- these are NOT ACTIONABLE SO COMPLAIN ALL YOU LIKE
Anyone can veto BUT you can only veto if you have a viable and actionable alternative recommendation
There can be a round where everyone can veto -- you can only veto twice, you cannot repeat your previous recommendation
Usually, within 5 mins, your group can arrive at a decision
When a destination is decided, NO MORE COMPLAINING, you either come or you don’t join the group -- we are all adults here.
The game in action (based on an actual conversation I have had):
Let’s eat at Tapa King!
No, there are no healthy alternatives, let’s go to New Bombay!
No, the service is too slow and I have a 1:30 pm call let’s go to Pancake House!
No protests? Great, let’s go!
Now if the lot of you aren’t used to this actionability mindset, it may get frustrating at first. But I think the beauty of this game is that it establishes that #1 You really can’t please everyone, and #2 compromise is possible in very short bursts and when people are hungry.
Try it! In nearly 15 years, deciding for lunch hasn’t been an issue for me. I mean the lunch menu is another thing (I always order carbonara) but that’s a problem to tackle for another day.
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