Finding Their Triangle of Sadness
The Times (London's) this week reported the average salary of a UK university head honcho. Known as a vice-chancellor. Across the country's 140-strong higher ed estate, it is an astonishing £325K.
There are genuinely world-leading colleges across Glorious Albion. Proudly attending one of the world's top b-schools myself. With a guest lecturing stint at another. Yet their rankings are slipping.
This wailing complaint from one of these leaders duly earned widespread ridicule. Ignoring plenty of needs; rein in bloated 'admin' functions, untrammelled debate, and strengthen commercial ties beyond endowment funds. Their institutions instead deserve more breaks, attention and money;
"... [UK universities] are all trapped in “a triangle of sadness” with debt-burdened students, insufficient funds and demoralised staff."
Where the heart does bleed, is for the unfortunate students. Saddled with paying-back enormous fees for a course that may prove worthless from an experience that might not have turned out to be 'the best years of their lives'.
Before we rail more at the entitlement of producer over consumer, let's take something from this framing.
A Triangle of Sadness.
As a device, I love riffing this vibe.
I'll often identify a trio of levers and draw them as a triangle with prospects.
When you crack one, it works wonders.
Each vertex can represent an area of opportunity, a driving force or part of a trilemma.
In my book, 101 Diagrams That Sell, I reference such [2020 ed. #31]. Like 'iron triangles'. Allowing plotting inside three axes of constraint, competing vested interests or idea sparks.
Sadness as a label may or may not suit you and your prospect's desires. Happily many an alternative exists; controls, windows, ambition, resource, expansion, focus.
Which you can deploy in either 'where we are now' or 'where we want to be' manner.
A triangle traditionally symbolises all sorts of admirable qualities. Power, purpose, passion. And many more besides. By developing this type, you'll also gain preference.