Powerfully Concise
Words have so much power. A single word can have a devastating impact, or rise people to action and lift nations. Throughout my career, I’ve come across powerful expressions that capture a very deep and multi-layered meaning in just a few succinct words. I call these expressions powerfully concise as they are short but incredibly powerful in their direct and layered meaning. Here are a couple of examples:
The Obligation To Dissent:
Among McKinsey and Company’s core values is the “The obligation to dissent”. Originally from Marvin Bower, the famed “father” of McKinsey’s culture and values, this synthesises not only the relationship that consultants must develop with their clients but also that which junior consultants must develop vis-a-vis senior consultants. But this obligation is not just a free pass to disagree. It’s also not an option, or permission, or privilege. It’s an obligation, a duty, a commitment.
Further, this obligation does not come freely. To retain credibility, the dissenter must present a reasoned argument for their dissent. This is implicit in the language, rather legal-ese, being used.
