Deceptively Simple Questions

Where do you work? What are you working on? Who do you work with?

These questions are often bandied about at cocktail parties as simple conversation-starters. Yet, they’re really rather probing. How often have you stopped to reflect and really consider: Where DO I work? What AM I working on?

Similarly, Patrick Lencioni writes about six critical but deceptively simple questions in his latest book, The Advantage. The exercise is part of a model that includes four disciplines to achieve organizational health.

1. Why do we exist?
   The answer to this question will yield a core purpose.
2. How do we behave?
   This question examines behaviors and values required for success.
3. What do we do?
   This answer provides a simple, direct explanation of the company.
4. How will we succeed?
   This question requires the team members to develop a strategy.
5. What is most important, right now?
   The answer to this question is the establishment of a unifying thematic goal and action plan.
6. Who must do what?
   This question addresses roles and responsibilities.

Next comes the task of communication. Steps 3 and 4 in Lencioni’s Healthy Organization model are to over-communicate the clarity created from answering the six critical questions and then to reinforce the clarity/communication. Lencioni says the sign of a good parent is if their kids can do an impression of them when they’re not around, “Don’t stay out after midnight, nothing good can happen.” The same is true for good leaders. Unless your line managers, your junior contributors and your executive VPs can all mimic you, “We have to get XX right, we can not get it wrong.” then you’re not yet doing your job.

We often hear, “Do what you say, and say what you do.” But if nobody’s paying attention or unable to mimic your language and behaviors, then you best change how you’re saying it or change how you’re doing it.

So what are you saying? What are you doing? And to bring it full circle, where do you work? And what are you working on? Here is a quick look at how fellow Juniper colleagues in Engineering took on those deceptively simple questions: 

Where Will You Do Your Best Work?

Full disclosure right up front. I'm a former marketing gal and now an HR gal. I'm clearly going to be biased in my opinions about Juniper and will most definitely espouse the virtues of the company and how great it is to work here. But truth be told, it's honestly how I feel about Juniper. This really IS where I can do my best work.

I've been with the company for a little over 2 years. It was my first corporate gig after an exciting life at various advertising agencies. (As Don Draper would tell you, ad agency years count like dog years.) I was immediately validated for making the right choice, impressed by the brand work being championed, the strength and diversity of the executive team and the vibrant culture of innovators constantly striving to solve problems. After a year at Sunnyvale HQ I took advantage of Juniper's flexible work environment options and attained virtual worker status so I could return to my home state of Missouri and be near family.

Being selected to champion a body of work we call "Life at Juniper" I was exposed to many colleagues around the globe. We interviewed them for videos and an interactive experience that would help tell the Juniper story. A passion was sparked and I recognized a desire to work more closely with the HR organization. Emboldened by the Juniper Way (our guiding principles and corporate values) I trusted my supervisor enough to have an authentic conversation about my career aspirations. Through the strong, interdependent relationships I had forged, that bold aspiration became a reality and I transferred into the HR organization. You surely are starting to see why I think this place is amazing — and unique.

I hope that you will enjoy hearing about Life at Juniper firsthand and encourage you to reach out with questions or topics of interest. There is a lot going on inside Juniper and I'm excited to be a small port hole into that world. And I hope that perhaps this blog may inspire some of you to come and do your best work alongside me.