A frivolous look at a few elements in the periodic table and their counterparts in an organisation

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Ten Slides in Ten Minutes:
Thoughts on the Periodic Table and Business
[Capturing the Hearts and Minds of Prospects & Clients]
Presented by:
Bill Graham APM.APMP
bill.graham@sales-synthesis.co.za
November, 2013

2. The Periodic Table reflects the Chemical Elements of the Universe
All of the Elements have different properties – akin to the Resources of an organisation
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3. Atomic Number 1 - Hydrogen
Hydrogen is a concern in metallurgy as it can embrittle many metals - similarly with
caustic CEOs that have a destructive nature and produce a fragile organisation.
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4. Atomic Number 2 - Helium
Helium is colourless, odourless, tasteless, and inert. Its boiling and melting points
are the lowest among the elements.
Be careful that the CEO’s ‘Second-in-Charge’ is not colourless, odourless, tasteless
and inert… like many COOs, CFOs and FDs
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5. Atomic Number 6 - Carbon
Carbon is the fourth most abundant element in the universe by mass. It is present in
all known life forms – and, in the human body, carbon is the second most abundant
element by mass . Carbon is the chemical basis of all known life.
Culture is derived from the personalities of the ‘masses’ within an organisation.
Ensure that these are the ‘troops’ that you wish to fight with !
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6. Atomic Number 78 - Platinum
Platinum is one of the rarest elements in the Earth's crust. It is used in catalytic
converters, laboratory equipment, electrical contacts and electrodes, platinum
resistance thermometers, dentistry equipment and jewellery.
It is a scarce material and is highly valuable.
One of the most difficult tasks of the Executive Committee is to identify those
resources that should be fast-tracked through the organisational layers.
…Those that are scarce but highly valuable.
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7. Atomic Number 79 - Gold
Gold is attractive, bright yellow, soft, malleable and ductile. It is one of the least
reactive elements and solid under standard conditions.
Don’t be fooled by the outward appearances of resources – the actual person is
living inside and that’s the person you need to identify, recruit, nurture and grow.
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8. Atomic Number 82 - Lead
Lead is soft and malleable and rapidly tarnishes to a dull greyish colour when
exposed to air.
Similarly, with many resources that should remain as ‘back office’ staff and never be
taken into the vicinity of customers - as they will rapidly bore them…
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9. Atomic Number 94 - Plutonium
Plutonium is silvery-grey and tarnishes when exposed to air and forms a dull coating
when oxidised. It reacts with many other elements and when exposed to moist air
may ignite. These properties make the handling of plutonium dangerous…
When creating a Shared Services environment be very careful to appoint the people
with the correct personalities. They must be able to work with others and be
approachable.
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10. …and, of course, in any organisation there are Criminal Elements !
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