EdGrimshaw.com

The modellers of NLP purport that is about the study and modelling of excellence,behavioural excellence. That is, you can model an example that is "excellent" then transfer the skills to others. Excellence seems one of those concepts that has been overmarketed and oversold in business. "We plan to be a centre of excellence, world class or leaders in the field." Not many organisations plan to be plain average. Excellence is presented as destination, a trait, an innate quality rather than an ongoing journey or a direction to pursue.

So if we move towards better practise, with a clear distinction of the operational standards then we can build in the pursuit of excelling as an organisation.

In NLP there is a technique called the circle of excellence where the subject spacially anchors a compounded state. Once again it utilises the product of excellence rather than the process of excelling. This can be useful in accessing a positive state but should not be confused with the conditions that may lead to an excellent performance.

The other key component that represents a challenge is knowing what excellence might be in terms of an example. When do you know you have actually found the best. Its easier if your dealing with a public figure such as Tiger Woods, Wayne Rooney or Roger Federer but what if its a butcher, baker or three piece suit maker?

Then again theres excellence in terms of organisations. Given the diversity and variety of various organisations not always simple to scope and match. One NHS PCT may have a different set of issues to solve than another. So we could scope the excelling in terms of solving or creating and operationalising a strategy.

If we specify excellence as the top 1 - 2% using a range of objective measurements then we have something that has some clarity. So how do we move from wherever we are or the modelee (inidividual or organisation) to the top echelons of excellence.

The simple answer is one step at a time.  In modelling we need the tools (models) to model precisely. The tool need to be fit for purpose. For example if we are modelling motivation we need a tool that elicits the distinctions and variability around motivation.