This one everyone knows; but let’s explore this fully.

Friction is an indicator of mis-alignment.

This means, friction is something that happens when expectation does not meet reality. You wanted something to happen like x, but it happened like 123, then there is friction.

Even if 123 went better than x, at least initially — till you see that 123 is better than x, it feels like friction for a bit. So, in this case, friction anyway happened. Therefore:

Alignment is the antidote

Now, you would think that to remove all friction is good, but that’s not the case either. If there was no friction, what would we work on? If things are super smooth, so smooth that there’s nothing to do, then it becomes boring. Unless you have better things to do, that is. Only then, it makes sense to remove as much friction as possible.

Why do I say so? It’s because friction is also where jugaad (impromptu innovation) comes from. If everything’s super smooth & slick, not much chance to do anything there except disrupt in, no?

That’s why the best systems maintain a fine balance between alignment and an in-built friction (I call it the grind).

Have a Good Friday!