The Culture Experiment

16

Steal Stuff!

You’re unique (yay!) Doesn’t mean your work challenges are… That’s why this experiment is all about stealing stuff.

Stuck on a problem? Need a fresh perspective?  Nick something (or someone’s) genius, and make it work for you.

THE EXPERIMENT

  1. Define Your Problem

Ask: what exactly am I trying to solve here?  Strip it back to it’s essence. What’s it about? Speed? Creativity? Connection?

Clarity is key here. Boil your dilemma down to one simple statement: how can we create such a strong sense of team identity everyone wants to join our tribe (and never leave)?!

  1. Find Parallel Worlds

Look beyond your bubble. There’s a big world out there! Where else has this challenge been tackled brilliantly? If it’s about speed, what could you learn from a Formula 1 pit crew? If it’s about tribal identity – what could you learn from the Maasai tribe?

  1. Research, Steal, and Adapt
  • Research Solutions: Investigate how others have solved your problem. Look for case studies, articles, interviews, or stories.
  • Steal the Principles: What’s at the heart of their success? In the Maasai’s Eunoto ritual, mentorship, community support, and public celebration are key.
  • Adapt It: Apply those principles to your context – and give them a twist! Could you create a public welcoming ritual with a gift for new team members (piercings optional)? What’s your version of the Maasai’s red shuka cloth?

WHY TRY IT?

Stealing ideas busts us out of cognitive biases and mental ruts.

By exploring other worlds, we force our brains to think differently, opening up new perspectives and solutions we’d never otherwise see.

  • Out hiking, Swiss engineer Georges de Mestral noticed burdock seeds clinging to his clothes and his dog’s fur. Inspired by their hook-and-loop structure, he created Velcro—now used everywhere from fashion to space exploration.
  • To speed up disaster relief to remote areas, the Red Cross studied military logistics. By ‘stealing’ principles like Centralised Command and Pre-Packaged Resource Units, they got aid out faster, and saved thousands more lives.

MAKE IT STICK

  • Turn it into a habit. When hit with a fresh problem, always ask: who’s already cracked this?
  • Get your team to brainstorm industries or contexts with a similar dilemma. Everyone has to pitch a different ‘steal’ to their team-mates!
  • Push past the obvious. The most exciting ideas will come from worlds wildly different to yours.

Your flash of inspiration is out there – hidden among the Maasai tribe; in a Formula One pit, or at your kids’ soccer practice. Start searching (and stealing!)

Steal like an artist –