Can't Read the Label From Inside the Jar

By definition it is impossible for any of us to know what we don’t know.

D. Brown Management

July 2, 2018 2 minute read

Quote: You can't read the label from inside the jar.

We could be in the top 5% inside our domain and better off spending time scaling the machine rather than perfecting it.
We could be missing something major and not be able to see it.
We could be in a very high-leverage position where even a small improvement could have a huge impact.
We could be missing so much context for the model that we have difficulty seeing how new information fits in thereby limiting our Situational Awareness.

Who are the top 5 people inside your organization that help each other refine your models of projects, your company and the industry?

Who are the top 5 people you are mentoring and coaching to help them refine their models?

Who do you turn to on the outside of your organization that is experienced and unbiased to help give you perspective?

Situational Awareness: Learning to See (3 Levels)

Outcomes are determined by quality decisions and actions. Those decisions will never be better than the situational awareness they are built upon. There are three ascending levels of situational awareness which can all be evaluated and developed.

continuous improvement management

Tracking Change Progress (The Funnel): Basic Status Categories

Managing changes effectively means that you need clear visibility across all projects. While the workflow will vary by project, the key progress milestones in your internal process will remain fixed.

business management change management process standardization project management

Evaluating Levels of Importance and Desire

Your feelings about what is "Really Important" or "Urgent" are often lying to you, or at the very least, stretching the truth. Your calendar tells you the truth, even though you may not like what it says.

self improvement