I tweeted this early today:
Reimagining acidlabs. Don't think my message is clear. #
I began working on some ideas I've had stewing for a while. They're all about making clearer what acidlabs is about and how I want to do things here. I shot an email to a colleague asking permission to use something they had done in terms of corporate mission as inspiration and now I've come up with something of an acidlabs Manifesto. It's included as a part of my new How acidlabs works page, but I'm posting here so it stands independently. Herewith, my manifesto:
I care about your business, your problems and the solutions to them. I care about your people, working for them and with them, and your clients and stakeholders. I believe in my clients and the things they're trying to achieve.
I don't have all the answers and I don't offer a one-shot fix-it solution. I tackle your problems head-on and enjoy the new challenges they present. What I did for another client isn't necessarily what I'll do for you.
This isn't regular consulting. I don't breeze in and tell you how to fix things. I listen first. Not just to your management, but to staff across your organisation, and to your clients and maybe even to your competition. It may be that the janitor or the new hire actually has the perfect insight into the issue. I ask a lot of questions, but I do it in a friendly way.
I'm realistic. The issues we address together will be the real issues and the solutions we come up with will be things you can actually do. Today. Tomorrow. Next month. Next year. I can also offer vision for the future, but temper it with some realism and the ability to actually get things done. I want to see you succeed in an extraordinary way.
I care that what we do together enables you to go on with improving what's already been done after I leave. You shouldn't need me forever, but I'm happy to work with you over an extended period. My work is about building relationships between equals, not love 'em and leave 'em.
I won't do work I can't. I may not take on what you want me to do for reasons of load or a mismatch in skills. If I can't do work for you for these reasons, I'll do my best to help you find someone that can. I won't compromise my ethics to work on a lucrative gig. I always deliver work I'm proud of and want the world to see.
I won't tell you how to do things and I'm not interested in running your business for you. I am at times interested in partnerships of sorts. My aim is to get you clear on what needs to be done and help you do it. We work together to realise your dreams and achieve extraordinary outcomes. That said, it's still down to you to implement what we do together in your business.
I'm interested in what you think. Comment and let me know.
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