Out of the Comfort Zone

R Gopalakrishnan, former Vice Chairman of Hindustan Unilever and currently Executive Director of Tata Sons in his book, The Case of the Bonsai Manager which shows how important it is for each one of us to get out of the comfort zone . . .

This story is about fish in Japan. And the message is relevant for individuals and corporate around the world.

It’s a classic problem-solution saga that the Japanese love to relate. As is well known, the Japanese love fresh fish. Such has been Japan’s fascination with eating fresh fish that, for many years now, there’s hardly any fish to be found in the waters off Japanese shores. So fishermen came up with a solution. They built bigger boats and went farther from the shore to catch fish. Unfortunately, this created another problem. The farther they went to fish, the longer it took them to get back to the shore. By the time they got back, the fish was stale. And the Japanese, well, they like their fish fresh.

To solve this problem, the fishermen came up with another solution. They installed refrigeration units on the boats. But the Japanese were clearly clever, discerning folks. They could tell the difference between frozen fish and fresh fish. And they wanted their fresh fish. Besides, frozen fish commanded lower prices, threatening the viability of the entire fishing business.

So the fishermen came up with another solution. They installed fish tanks on the boat ! they would catch fish from the sea and put them into the tank. So they could now take back fresh fish !

But that was not to be either. As the tank got stuffed with fish, the fish would flap around a bit, then get lazy and lie resigned to their fate. Motionless. Inactive. Dull. And the Japanese could tell the difference. They wanted fresh fish, not sluggish fish !

Even as a seemingly insurmountable crisis loomed over the Japanese fishing industry, the wise fisher folk came up with yet another innovative solution. They still had to sail out a long distance. And they still had the same boats and the same fish tanks. But there was one difference. In each tank, the fishermen put in a small shark. The shark kept the fish active, running around, busy. Sure, the shark ate a few fish but the threat of the shark kept the other fish active and healthy. The challenge ensured that none of them could afford to lie still. As a result, what eventually reached the shore was fresh, active fish. And the Japanese loved it !

Come to think of it, we are all like the fish too. We need that shark to stay sharp. To keep us out of the Comfort Zone . . .  In case any of us or our organization is slowly slipping into the comfort zone, it might be a good idea to bring in a shark.

If you are Coke, invent a Pepsi. Do what Steve Waugh, the former Australian Cricket Caption did constantly to himself and his team – get outta the comfort zone ! (in fact his autobiography is also called “Out of the Comfort Zone”)

Remember, the shark may eat some fish but that’s a small price to pay for keeping the rest of them active. Go get your shark – today !!!

Get out of the comfort zone – if there’s no enemy, create one.