We transformational consultants are always trying to reframe ideas, make them new, fresh and relevant. For example, New Year’s Resolutions became Goals (1980s) became Intentions (1990s) became Declarations (2000s). Now we play in the domain of Experiments, Challenges and Inquiries. Maybe this is just semantics, or re-invented styles from decades past. Experiments are really just a new way of saying Game, and game-theory has been long in play (and so have experiments in some cutting-edge consultant circles).

In the context of exquisite sufficiency, an experiment allows us to name a strategy and then literally play with it. We advise ourselves not to take it too seriously, but to play hard, take on the challenge of doing something we haven’t done before, to be inventive and dig deep into our intuitive wisdom for some new thinking and acting, always asking ourselves what else?

Living in inquiry is radical any day of the week in any decade. In a world with people begging for the answer – answers just make us feel so safe and controlled – asking questions, especially following a question with a question, is mere blasphemy in some industries and organizations. “What do you think of my performance?” “What do you think of your performance?” How should this process work?” “How do you think this process should work?”

Admitting we don’t know adds a particular kind of vulnerability only now gaining some credibility for its honesty. We use it all the time at Seven Stones. Saying “I don’t know” causes an automatic pause in the process, and in our experiments, pauses often generate fertile ground for magnificent creation.

So in this post-holiday season, as we craft our vision for 2012, naming what we want more of and less of…

  • Play inside the freedom and structure of experimentation.
  • Tell the truth when we don’t know something and give the asker the chance to know by asking them.
  • Set up some challenges over the year that are measurable, winnable and worth playing.
  • And have fun.