Funny Thoughts on Square Wheels is a summary of some of the crazy realities of how my Square Wheels One image can generate open discussions of issues and opportunites for workplace improvements.

Playing with the Square Wheels® metaphor for 30+ years, and working with colleagues in Jordan about the framework for a book on sales management wrapped around the metaphor and my visual anchors for discussions, I asked Perplexity for some of the paradoxical realities of SWs to improving.

Using the image evolution above, we have generated hundreds of responses and reactions to this simple question:

First, a quick overview about the metaphor and its meanings and interpretations, again generated by Perplexity but maybe also more complete than my thinking at this time:

1. Inefficiency and Resistance to Change

• Symbolism of Square Wheels®:
  • Meaning: Represents outdated processes and general resistance to adopting new methods or ideas.
  • Response: Encourage a culture of continuous continuous improvement and innovation. Implement regular process reviews and encourage employees to suggest improvements.

2. Misalignment of Resources

• Unused Round Wheels:
  • Meaning: Indicates the presence of untapped potential and resources within the organization.
  • Response: Conduct resource audits to identify and utilize available assets effectively. Foster a culture where employees feel empowered to propose and implement new ideas.

3. Leadership and Team Dynamics

• Push and Pull Effort:
  • Meaning: Highlights the disjointed efforts of the team and potential lack of strategic direction.
  • Response: Improve leadership communication and alignment. Ensure that all team members understand the organization’s goals and their roles in achieving them.

4. Organizational Culture

• Stagnation:
  • Meaning: Reflects a culture that is resistant to change and innovation.
  • Response: Promote a growth mindset within the organization. Encourage learning and development opportunities to keep the workforce engaged and adaptable.

5. Potential for Improvement

• Round Wheels:
  • Meaning: Symbolizes the potential for significant improvements and efficiency gains.
  • Response: Prioritize the implementation of best practices and innovative solutions. Create a roadmap for transitioning from current practices to more efficient ones.

6. Employee Engagement and Morale

• Effort and Frustration:
  • Meaning: The physical effort required to move the cart with Square Wheels can symbolize employee frustration and low morale. The View at The Back is quite different than the View at The Front, in case you did not notice.
  • Response: Address employee concerns and provide the necessary tools and support to improve their work experience. Recognize and reward efforts to boost morale.

7. Strategic Vision

• Lack of Vision:
  • Meaning: The focus on immediate tasks without seeing the bigger picture. The people at the back generally have no clue as to where, what and why and we expect them to be motivated?
  • Response: Develop and communicate a clear strategic vision. Ensure that all levels of the organization understand how their work contributes to the overall goals.

8. Change Management

• Resistance to Change:
  • Meaning: The reluctance to switch from Square Wheels® to round ones despite the obvious benefits.
  • Response: Implement effective change management strategies. Engage employees in the change process and address their concerns to facilitate smoother transitions. ANY improvement that they implement is a REAL improvement.

9. Innovation and Creativity

• Untapped Ideas:
  • Meaning: The round wheels represent innovative ideas that already exist but are not being utilized.
  • Response: Create a platform for employees to share and develop their ideas. Encourage cross-functional collaboration to foster creativity and innovation.

10. Process Optimization

• Inefficient Processes:
  • Meaning: The use of Square Wheels® indicates inefficient processes that hinder progress and make work harder.
  • Response: Conduct process optimization workshops. Use lean and other improvement methodologies to streamline workflows and impact efficiencies.

11. Resource Allocation

• Mismanagement of Resources:
  • Meaning: The round wheels in the cart are not being used where they are needed. Managing the ideas without implementation is often costly to morale and engagement.
  • Response: Reevaluate resource allocation to ensure that the right resources are being used in the right places. Implement a more strategic approach to resource management.

12. Employee Empowerment

• Lack of Empowerment:
  • Meaning: Employees may feel powerless to suggest or implement changes. And not that it is their choice as to whether they are engaged — and Gallup says 80% are not!
  • Response: Dis-Un-Empower employees by involving them in decision-making processes. Provide training and development opportunities to build their confidence and skills.

The Big Idea here is simple; Get people to step back from “the wagon” and consider new alternatives for making better progress, implementing best practices or for simply getting out of the mud of un-engagement.

By addressing these key features and potential responses, organizations can move towards a more efficient, innovative, and engaged workforce, ultimately leading to improved performance and success.

1. “Looks like our Monday morning strategy meeting in action!” – Commentary on the often slow and cumbersome start to the workweek.
2. “Who needs round wheels when you have sheer determination?” – A playful jab at the tendency to rely on hard work rather than smarter solutions.
3. “I see the new ‘Efficiency Committee’ is hard at work again.” – A sarcastic remark about committees that often discuss improvements but rarely implement them.
4. “This must be the new ‘innovative’ project management style I’ve been hearing about.” – A tongue-in-cheek comment on buzzwords and trends that don’t necessarily lead to real improvements.
5. “Why fix what’s broken when you can just keep pushing harder?” – Highlighting the absurdity of ignoring obvious solutions in favor of more effort.
6. “I guess the round wheels are for the ‘next quarter’s budget’.” – A humorous take on how solutions are often postponed for future planning cycles.
7. “At least they’re getting their daily workout in!” – A light-hearted comment on the physical effort being put in due to inefficiency.
8. “This is what happens when the ‘suggestion box’ is just for show.” – A playful but common critique of organizations that don’t act on employee suggestions.
9. “Maybe they’re just saving the round wheels for a rainy day?” – A humorous take on the reluctance to use available resources. But note that there is more mud on those rainy days.
10. “Looks like another day in the ‘Department of Redundancy Department’.” – A funny nod to the repetitive and inefficient processes often found in organizations.
11. “Who needs progress when you have tradition?” – A sarcastic comment on the resistance to change due to traditional practices.
12. “I think they missed the ‘work smarter, not harder’ memo.” – A playful jab at the failure to adopt more efficient methods.
13. “Maybe they’re just testing the durability of those square wheels?” – A humorous suggestion that there might be a hidden purpose to the inefficiency.
14. “Looks like the ‘Innovation Team’ is at it again!” – A sarcastic remark about teams that are supposed to innovate but end up maintaining the status quo.
15. “I bet the round wheels are part of the ‘premium package’ we can’t afford.” – A joke about budget constraints preventing the use of better solutions.

But there is also my most favorite one:

“We’re not like that. We push our wagon uphill!

With some thought and reflection, we CAN work with our people to generate some ideas for real workplace engagement and innovation,

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