#465 picture this

While on her vacation, our university president was staying in a cottage that had puzzles in bags, but without the box or front picture that lets the maker know what the completed puzzle should look like.  She was able to put together the edges, but did not make much progress on the center section.

For this year’s opening session address, she used the analogy of a jigsaw puzzle to describe the importance of our strategic plan.  “Our strategic plan is our puzzle box top,” she said.  “It gives us long-term direction, allows us to make optimum use of our resources and maximizes the impact of our effort.”

How true it is.  Think of the frustration and wasted energy when only those at the top know what the puzzle is supposed to look like.  Organizations are wise to share the picture widely and to encourage others to help assemble it.  Sometimes a person may only link two pieces while passing by, but they may be the crucial start of a whole new section.

Keep the puzzle accessible and the picture on the box visible and your puzzle is likely to be assembled much more quickly.

-- beth triplett
leadershipdots.blogspot.com

@leadershipdots
leadershipdots@gmail.com

Thanks to Joanne!