Woo Woo

The art of not understanding

Every day brings mystery, jeopardy, and surprises. Anyone that has been in business for more than a decade would know that these are the elements we try and reduce. Forecasting, predictability, and steadiness have tremendous equity in a VUCA (Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, and Ambiguous) world. From this acronyms start taking over our world.... KRA's (Key Results Areas), KPI's (Key Performance Indicators), SWOT Analysis (Strength Weakness Opportunity Threat), and so on...

In reality these areas of measurement and fact are extremely useful and create a reference point for what we are doing, why we are doing it, and what we plan to do next. In the reflection and future actions of this process science begins to become patchy. There are little gaps between the 'knowns' and we have no choice but to let go of our logical data driven wants and needs (left brain) and embrace the creative and imaginative aspect of our thinking (right brain).

I apply this personally. I regularly see my physio to work through structural problems of my back and hip. Everything we do is scientifically proven and is driven by rationale. We discuss the principles, the application, the diagnostics, and adjust plans accordingly. It is a wonderful partnership. I also see my chiropractor where we do a few adjustments while working on the acupuncture energy meridians with kinesiology muscle testing to understand and recalibrate my subconscious. It is in these sessions where my rational thinking is tested. A part of me wants to say, "this is a load of bollocks" , which I have learnt is a healthy level of scepticism. So I have been extremely curious (as I am with the Physio), and have also looked for evidence of improvement and change. Over time I have learnt to let go. To trust in the process and to relinquish the need to know.

Both treatments have been successful. But it is the one I do not fully understand which is creating the biggest shift in my metrics of success. When I spoke recently to a group of peers about this it was my friend Susan Hunter, the Clinical Naturopath and Wellbeing Expert that said "the woo woo of today is the standard practice of tomorrow".

This comment hit me between the eyes (like most things Susan says) and it is one of the most relevant ideas I can think of in our modern workplaces. Being able to embrace the far-out (or left-of-centre) ideas may be a leaders most powerful weapon. In 1937 Napoleon Hill wrote about the 14 principles of the "Philosophy of Achievement" in his all time best seller Think and Grow Rich, which included ideas like faith, desire, imagination, and the sixth sense. Non-scientific ideas that have only become more relevant as time has gone on and has resulted in entire sections of book stores being devoted to such ideas.

Why? Because the woo woo works and the science caught up. Over time we start to understand the patterns, build business cases, and create new best practices which in time can be proven. I am learning to embrace the woo woo. To be inquisitive, experimental, and curious around the ideas we can practically utilise in real time. The leaders which are curious and observe for the bits-in-between the facts and pay with them will no doubt find new solutions and move their cause forward with acceleration compared to the rest. Being okay with not understanding may be the super power of today's leaders.