237. What are three things we wish management would explain to us in simpler language?

This season, every episode of OMG focuses on a question that directors really need to answer.

OMG is written, produced, narrated and scored by Matt Fullbrook.

 

TRANSCRIPT:

Question #35: What are three things we wish management would explain to us in simpler language? Nothing could be more appropriate than the actual 100% true fact that I wrote the script for this episode while listening to a compilation of Curtis Mayfield’s greatest hits. The greatest hits aren’t as satisfying as, say, just listening through the album Curtis top to bottom, but still. As for the relevance to this episode, if you know you know. On a similar note, episode 129 of OMG was called “Is Thing Explainer the best management book?” In other words, everywhere you look there are great examples in the world of people communicating complex information and ideas in simple and impactful ways. You won’t find many of those examples in materials prepared for boards of directors. Which is fair, I guess. We’re conditioned to believe that if we leave out the jargon and exhaustive details then we’re probably failing to comply with some arcane rule somewhere. And in some cases that might be true. That said, just receiving all the jargon and exhaustive detail doesn’t guarantee that the board will, y’know, get it. I am confident that if your board explores today’s question together you will come up with some really useful answers, and everyone will be grateful. For the executives listening, feel free to use Thing Explainer and Curtis Mayfield as inspiration once the board shares their answers.