This was a presentation to draw business lessons from watercolour.  I painted a watercolour and talked through ten points on which to reflect in business.

My purpose is to help people who choose to collaborate. They ask me to assist with unsettling conversations, which they may dread.  I have clients who only phone me when no-one else wants to take on the work.

When we have finished our work together these clients feel:

  • Understood and challenged.
  • Relieved and energised.
  • Focussed and released.
  • Daunted yet able.

I have done hundreds of project workshops and many many strategy sessions.  So I understand this world.  I also understand something about watercolour.  As a watercolourist I continually come across similarities between the principles governing the creation of successful watercolours and perspectives leading to effective life and business.

Introduction

I introduced the talk by commenting on our move in history, from a hunting and gathering economy through agrarian, industrial to a knowledge economy.  We are now entering a concept economy in which the most valuable asset will be one that can create and work with concepts with or without supporting knowledge.  Being open to new ideas is going to be a core precept for success in the new economy.

Ten points

In the presentation, we covered:

  1. The value sketch, which was compared with the planning process you may (or perhaps should) be doing.  The core values of your business were also raised.
  2. Initiating the painting by transferring the sketch to the page.  This was related to models for initiating work.  Self-managing teams are the best way to get the best out of people and they require strong internal motivation.  Therefore a compelling direction is essential, requiring work to be given to staff in a particular way.
  3. The risk of putting the first paint to paper. This introduced the topic of taking risks and dealing with perfectionism.
  4. White space and the need to select details to include in the painting and those to leave out.  Here the topic of core business concept was discussed and the need to decide on what opportunities to take on and what we will allow to pass us by.
  5. Making each brush stroke count.  This was related to caring execution and focus on getting things done.
  6. Repetition alternation and gradation. Here the topic of process definition and customisation was discussed, as well as learning by repetition.
  7. Each painting as a learning experience. The need for learning discipline and the KOLB learning cycle was discussed.
  8. That a good painting “Arrests, Communicates and Rewards”.  This introduced a model for evaluating your value offer and how your value offer is perceived in your market place.
  9. How dominance resolves conflict in a painting, which was introduced three views on leadership.
  10. We also did some finishing.  A good painting has harmony and balance.   To highlight where I wanted to draw attention to the places where I wanted to focus.  And so it is all pulled together.

This has been a great success and I have already had requests to do this again.