Tree rings

I was fascinated to learn that trees store more information than I previously realized. Tree rings tell at least two stories. The first, which we probably all learned in school, is the age of the tree, represented by the tree rings. The second, that I was unaware of, is a look at the environment that surrounded the tree during its lifetime. Each year a tree adds a new layer of growth in the form of bark. These layers of the tree appear as rings. A narrow tree ring represents a year of bad weather and a wide ring a year of good weather. Good weather = good tree growth = a wider tree ring.

The tree tells you a story about itself, but that same story tells you something about its surroundings. In the United States modern record-keeping for the weather began in 1891. Yet, Mike Baillie, a dendrochronologist, devised a computer program that matches the patterns of tree rings from around the world providing a measure of weather data going back some 7,400 years. Of course, tree ring analysis provides far less detail than modern weather data record keeping. Nevertheless, with his tree ring insights, he extended the available data pool by over 7,000 years.

Fascinating to think that there are potentially decades or more of weather data sitting in our yards and thousands of years of it in forests around the world. It makes me wonder what other metaphorical tree rings are around us in our organizations, environment, and lives.

What other things are inconspicuously storing information that can be analyzed and turned into insights?

Good, bad, or something else?

Regarding survey/feedback data collection: Have you ever encountered a survey or feedback form where you're only given two options but neither fits your true response? While a binary choice of positive or negative can lead to the appearance of efficiency for the organization deploying the survey, the efficiency may be solely tied to the survey itself. Not necessarily an efficient path to product or service innovation. In fact, this appearance of efficiency may actually be hiding opportunities for innovation. Allowing for, better yet asking for, open-ended answers can lead to insights that cannot be uncovered by a binary choice alone. It could reveal a problem that you weren't even inquiring about. Create a means for unexpected insights to reveal themselves.

Job Descriptions

Who is responsible for writing a job description in an organization? Is it the hiring manager? The HR department? The recruiter? All of the above? If all of the above, who drives that collaboration? Job descriptions are really a form of marketing for your business, but instead of attracting customers, you're attracting talent. Yet, job descriptions rarely receive the level of attention and resources allocated to marketing.

Thoughtfully constructed job descriptions attract the right talent, set expectations for the role, and provide clarity on what success looks like in the role. Poorly written job descriptions drag out the talent acquisition cycle and drive up costs.