Blue Elevator Blog

Introducing PAT

You know those three-wheeled combination locks on briefcases?  They are pretty simple little mechanisms.  You line up the correct numbers, slide the tab, and the latch pops up.  It’s as simple as that.

The same thing applies in business.  So, we’ll introduce PAT: Principle, Application, and Technique.  If you want to be successful, all of these must line up.  And as you may have read in previous articles, simple ain’t necessarily easy.

Where and When Does PAT Apply?

PAT applies everywhere and all the time.  In business, or in your organization, you will have countless opportunities to apply the PAT test.

P = Principle (Why)

In life and business, there are God-given solid and true principles that never change.  There are lots of these.

A practical principle to introduce is the Principle of engagement.  There are many ways to describe this.  It ranges from being friendly to making sure that you acknowledge the overture of others in your life and business.  If someone waves to you in the grocery store, wave back.  Right?

A = Application (What)

One way to apply the Principle of engagement is through the use of a Deliverable.

And one way to Deliver your Deliverable is to provide something FREE of value.  Blue Elevator™ clients will recognize this as a vital component of the Deliverable.  Every business must have a Deliverable with a FREE component.  Why?  There is a Principle behind the premise.  And, Blue Elevator™ clients will understand this.  The FREE component of your Deliverable (e.g., application) should promote additional engagement (e.g., principle).

T = Technique (How)

The Technique is [How] you Apply [the What] of the Principle [Why].  In our example thus far, the Principle (e.g., engagement) had a chosen Application (e.g., a Deliverable) that we need to apply via a certain Technique.

To conclude this example, let’s discuss Technique.

Some Blue Elevator™ clients will attest that I like to carry around a yardstick.  This yardstick is a three-foot piece of wood that, back in the day, was used for just about everything: crafts, construction, simple measuring, etc.  It was as commonplace as a hammer and a screwdriver.  Today, not so much.  My yardstick is special, though.  It has the name T G & Y emblazoned across it.  T G & Y was an old school Five and Dime store – back in the day.

Back in the day, T G & Y promoted engagement (Principle) by creating a Deliverable (Application) in the form of a yardstick (Technique).

The leadership team at T G & Y could have chosen any technique – but they chose a yardstick.  Why a yardstick?  Well, I can only guess that filling 55 gallon drums with hundreds of FREE yardsticks was a lot less expensive than a bin full of FREE hammers.

All Together Now

Be encouraged to consider this: Principles never change, but Applications and Techniques do.

Every business today should have its own version of a yardstick.  It is important to have some FREE component of your business Deliverable.  Will it be an actual yardstick?  Probably not.

Every business owner must look for creative ways to promulgate Principle-based engagement via its own unique Application and Technique.

For example, what Technique will you use to effect engagement (Principle) via Twitter (Application)?  We need to look for modern day Applications and utilize modern day Techniques.  Both Applications and Techniques are constantly changing.

Consider This …

There is a great quote attributable to notable management expert, Peter F. Drucker: “Culture eats strategy for breakfast (or lunch).”  I believe the point here is that the best idea in the world needs to be nuanced to fit the culture in which it will reside.  In other words, the What (Applications) and How (Techniques) are super important.

Principles

Whereas Applications and Techniques change, solid Principles never change.  Every type of compass will point due North.  Old compasses and new compasses all have a due North.  Similarly, solid business principles always point due North.

Taken Together as a Whole

If your Principles are solid, all you have to do is figure out the right Application and the right Technique.  Like the combination lock on a briefcase, if you understand the underlying principle (e.g., one of the wheels), you will only have to focus on the other two wheels.  And that’s exactly what we do.  At Blue Elevator™, we help our clients work through PAT to Innovate™, Accelerate™, and Replicate™ through the world’s best business processes.  We’d love to have you Contact us.