In our modern world, we often find ourselves amidst constant noise, incessant distraction, and narrow-minded paradigms.
Everyone’s shouting, everyone’s mimicking, and frankly, most are just sleepwalking through their businesses.
They’re building the same products, using the same marketing, chasing the same tired metrics. They’re painting by numbers when they should be creating masterpieces.
Ring a bell?
Look, the temptation to conform is immense.
It’s easy to get caught up in the whirlwind of „best practices” and industry trends. But I’m here to tell you something: that’s the path to mediocrity. That’s the path to oblivion.
The goal is not to build another „me-too” business. The goal is to create something impactful, something innovative, or at least something that changes or significantly improves the game and helps the world move forward.
Think of it like this: life, business, it’s a canvas. And you hold the brush. Are you going to let the noise dictate your strokes? Are you going to let the crowd tell you what to paint? Or are you going to tap into your vision, your unique perspective, and create something truly extraordinary?
They call it Cubism. A way of seeing the world not from one fixed point, but from many. A way of understanding that reality is multifaceted, complex, and infinitely richer than we often perceive. It’s about seeing the same thing, but from a completely different angle.
This isn’t just art.
This is a mindset. A way of thinking.
And it’s more relevant to business today than ever before.
Why? Because we’re at a crossroads.
The old ways of doing business are dying: linear thinking, predictable strategies – they’re not going to cut it anymore.
The future belongs to those who can see the world differently. To those who embrace complexity, who value diverse perspectives, who are willing to challenge the status quo.
Imagine a leader who sees their team not as a collection of individuals, but as a constellation of unique talents. A leader who understands that every challenge, every obstacle, is an opportunity to see the world from a new angle, to find a new solution, to create something truly innovative.
I’m convinced that, at your core, you envision yourself as this kind of leader and that’s the transformative business you aspire to build.
So, let’s stop painting by numbers.
Let’s stop conforming.
Let’s embrace the power of perspective.
Let’s think different. See different. Be different. Be you.
Because the world doesn’t need another copy. It needs your masterpiece, your unique creation.
—
Let us embark on an in-depth exploration of how the principles of Cubism can profoundly enhance and transform the realms of contemporary business and leadership.
1.Breaking free from predictability: The fallacy of linearity
In today’s business environment, many individuals and organizations are so obsessed with predictability. Forecasting, planning, risk assessment – it’s all built on this fallacy that the future is a straight line extension of the past.
However, deep down, you know that’s not true. The world is messy, complex, and anything but a straight path.
Navigating with a linear mindset is like using the wrong map.
The key lies in understanding that, while we can gain insights from historical patterns, we must be flexible and innovative to thrive in the unpredictable dynamics of the world.
Think about it: Picasso did not paint a single, predictable view of a face; he presented multiple perspectives at once, challenging perceptions of reality.
This is the approach businesses need to adopt.
Stop looking for the one answer, the one solution.
Start exploring the multiple possibilities and asking yourself:
- Are simple solutions to complex problems limiting your potential?
- Are assumptions about the future holding you back?
- How can you create space for diverse perspectives, for the unexpected, for the downright disruptive?
This isn’t just about brainstorming.
It’s about a fundamental shift in leadership.
It is essencial to toster a culture where creativity isn’t just tolerated, it’s expected.
Embracing flexibility and empowering teams to think beyond conventional boundaries and challenge the status quo is becoming vital.
And the benefits are significant:
Innovation: Considering multiple viewpoints leads to creative solutions that drive progress and growth.
Adaptability: Accepting the dynamic nature of the business environment prepares organizations for multiple outcomes, making them better equipped to pivot and thrive.
Real problem-solving: Integrating diverse perspectives provides a deeper understanding of challenges, enabling strategies that address root causes instead of symptoms.
This shift is not easy. It requires courage and a willingness to let go of the familiar.
However, breaking free from the limitations of linear thinking can lead to remarkable achievements.
2. Embracing multiplicity: The holistic insight of cubism
Gone are the days of thinking the world is flat. Today, we understand that the world is far from a simple, single plane—it’s a multifaceted tapestry of endless possibilities.
And yet, too many businesses, too many leaders, are still trying to navigate this world with a one-dimensional map. They’re looking at problems through a keyhole when they should be seeing the entire landscape.
Think about it:
You’ve got your marketing team, siloed over there.
Your engineers, heads down in their code.
Your sales force, chasing numbers.
Each group sees a piece of the puzzle, but nobody sees the whole picture. And what happens? Fragmented solutions. Missed opportunities. Mediocre products.
This isn’t about tearing down departments. It’s about something bigger. It’s about vision.
Instead of viewing a business as a collection of isolated parts, it should be seen as a unified whole.
Embrace multiplicity.
Consider problems from the perspectives of customers, employees, suppliers, and competitors.
View issues from every angle and reflect on the following:
- Are you truly seeing the full picture? Or are you just seeing what you want to see?
- Are you fostering collaboration, or are you perpetuating silos?
- Are you pioneering new ideas, or just tweaking existing ones?
This approach goes beyond consultancy rhetoric. This is about crafting exceptional products.
This is about creating a magical customer experience.
This is about winning.
The tangible benefits of a holistic approach may include:
Comprehensive decisions: Decisions are made with a thorough perspective, considering the interconnectedness of various departments and functions, leading to more informed and well-rounded outcomes.
Stakeholder buy-in: When stakeholders are empowered to contribute and collaborate, they are more likely to invest in the success of changes. This inclusive approach fosters stronger commitment, active participation, and a shared vision.
Reduced risk: Viewing problems through a narrow lens can result in unintended consequences. A holistic approach enables leaders to anticipate and mitigate potential risks, reducing the likelihood of negative outcomes and ensuring effective solutions.
This is the power of cubism applied to business.
Embrace a new vision of the world, and let that perspective guide you to create a future full of limitless possibilities.
Think beyond the ordinary, challenge conventions, and forge a path that inspires and innovates.
3.Strategy reimagined: The power of diverse perspectives
You don’t have to take my word for it—the outdated, rigid approach to strategy, reliant solely on historical data and trend analysis with the assumption of a predictable future, is obsolete.
This Nostradamus wannabe….is dead. Buried.
Newsflash: the future is unpredictable. Disruption has become the new normal. And those inflexible, static strategies? They’re as useful as a rotary phone in the era of the iPhone.
Too many businesses are still clinging to the illusion of control in a world that’s inherently chaotic. Planning for every contingency is impossible due to the complexity of the surrounding environment.
Consider Picasso, He didn’t paint a single, fixed perspective. He shattered the image, showing you multiple viewpoints simultaneously. He forced you to see the subject in its entirety, its complexity, its truth
That’s how you need to approach your strategy.
Stop trying to simplify reality. Embrace the complexity.
See the problem from every angle.
Talk to your customers.
Talk to your engineers.
Talk to your critics.
Listen to them. Really listen and reflect on the following:
- Are your strategies set in stone, or are they fluid?
- Are they adaptable? Can they evolve as the world changes around you?
- Are you building a culture of continuous learning, or are you stuck in your old ways?
This shift is not about incremental improvement but a fundamental change in thinking.
Strategies need to be resilient, capable of withstanding inevitable shocks and surprises, and allowing organizations to thrive in a constantly changing world.
Cubism, as an art movement, offers a way of seeing the world, thinking, and leading.
The benefits of this approach may include:
Resilient strategies: Recognizing the complexity of business challenges and integrating diverse inputs, such as customer insights, competitor analysis, and internal feedback, leads to adaptive and resilient strategies.
Improved adaptability: The fluidity of cubist art mirrors the need for continuous adaptation in business. Leaders should build systems to scan for future trends and allow plans to evolve with new data, enabling swift and effective responses to changing conditions.
Competitive advantage: Adaptable and resilient strategies contribute to long-term, sustainable growth, enabling organizations to lead through volatility.
So, shatter your old assumptions: embracing complexity is key to survival and success in today’s dynamic business environment.
4. Shifting to perspective-taking in teams
Picture this: Teams working in silos. Departments locked in their own little worlds. Everyone focused on their own metrics, tasks, their own… tiny piece of the puzzle. This is a glimpse of what we often encounter.
It’s a fragmented mess. And it’s killing your innovation.
Too often, walls are built instead of bridges, and a narrow view is taken instead of a comprehensive one.
This isn’t just about collaboration. It’s about something deeper. It’s about perspective.
Consider Cubism. One of its most powerful elements is its emphasis on perspective-taking. Just as a Cubist painting captures multiple angles of a subject, modern leadership can integrate diverse viewpoints into a cohesive whole.
Stop thinking in silos.
Start seeing the world through the eyes of your team, your colleagues, your customers.
Embrace the multiplicity of perspectives and reflect on the following:
- Are you creating a safe space for people to share their ideas? Or are you shutting them down?
- Are you fostering open communication, or are you building walls?
- Are you actively seeking diverse viewpoints, or are you just listening to the people who agree with you?
This is about building insanely great teams that are creative, collaborative, and unstoppable.
The tangible benefits of embracing perspective-taking may include:
Improved team performance: When team members leverage their collective expertise, they can tackle problems more effectively and creatively. This interconnected approach leads to higher team performance and dynamic outcomes.
A more inclusive work environment: Inclusivity enhances job satisfaction, motivates employees to give their best effort, and attracts a wider range of talent, further enriching the organization’s capabilities.
Better problem-solving: Collaborative problem-solving leverages the collective intelligence of the team, leading to well-rounded solutions and a more robust decision-making process.
When everyone feels heard, when everyone feels valued, that’s when the magic happens.
That’s when you create something truly special.
5. Redefine problem-solving: Beyond surface-level solutions
Imagine this scenario: businesses notice a declining market share and they panic. They respond by slashing prices and launching a new ad campaign. These are quick fixes and superficial solutions. However, they rarely pause to ask the crucial question: why is their market share declining?
Many businesses are addressing the wrong problems, treating symptoms rather than the underlying issues. They’re putting Band-Aids on gaping wounds. And they wonder why they’re not making any real progress?
To truly succeed, it’s essential to look beyond these immediate reactions and seek to understand the underlying causes.
What appears to be a simple problem—may have complex, interwoven causes, ranging from shifting customer behaviors to technological trends or even internal operational inefficiencies.
This isn’t about surface-level solutions. This is about deconstruction.
Consider Cubism. Cubist artists do not paint only what they see on the surface; they break down the subject, examine it from every angle, and reveal its underlying structure and essence.
This approach can be successfully applied to your problem-solving.
Instead of treating problems as isolated events, view them as interconnected pieces of a larger puzzle.
Deconstruct them and examine them from multiple perspectives.
Ask yourself five times, ten times, a hundred times.
- Are you just treating the symptoms, or are you addressing the root cause?
- Are you looking at the problem from every angle, or are you stuck in your old ways of thinking?
- Are you learning from your mistakes, or are you doomed to repeat them?
This approach is not just about fixing problems; it is about reinventing problem-solving and building a culture of continuous learning and improvement.
To build a truly great business with more effective solutions, fewer recurring problems, and a smarter, more resilient organization, stop settling for surface-level solutions.
Dig deeper, ask tough questions, and embrace the complexity.
Only then can real problems be solved.
—
Therefore, take a moment to look around. The world isn’t flat anymore. It’s a vibrant landscape of peaks and valleys, a complex tapestry of interconnected systems and infinite possibilities.
More than ever, our world needs bold leaders ready to climb those metaphorical mountains.
Leaders who encourage their teams to question everything, to challenge the status quo.
Leaders who foster a culture of curiosity and a thirst for knowledge.
Leaders who know that the most valuable insights often come from the most unexpected places.
Leaders who understand that the old ways, the single perspective, the „one size fits all” mentality… well, it just doesn’t cut it anymore.
In today’s world, businesses are not just creating products—they are crafting unforgettable experiences, solving complex problems, and relentlessly pushing the boundaries of what is possible. And you don’t do that by looking at things from just one angle.
You have to see the whole picture and you have to understand the system, the interconnectedness of everything.
As you move forward, take this challenge to heart.The next time you face a business challenge or a strategic decision, think like a Cubist:
- see the full picture
- understand the system as a whole
- recognize the value of every perspective
Your business doesn’t need to fit the world into a single frame but rather to create and execute a dynamic, innovative, and sustainable strategy built on the power of many perspectives.
The space itself, in which you operate—your teams, your cultures, your markets—needs to flow through and blend seamlessly.
Now, let’s create some art.
You have the power to make it happen.
