This document is Lucia Tarbajovska's 2008-2009 master's thesis for the Berlin School of Creative Leadership titled "Fear Factor". The thesis hypothesizes that fear of differentiation is the primary driver of mediocrity for brands in the market. It discusses how a lack of differentiation and courage has led brands to avoid risks. The document also examines how fear impacts creativity, leaders, organizations, and industries. It proposes 10 "freedoms from fear" that could help create fearless organizations, such as keeping risks low, finding one's tribe, and avoiding linear thinking.
11. hypothesis
Fear to differentiate is the primary driver of
mediocrity for brands in the market.
As if brands lost their guts and courage to stand
out and stand for something crisp.
13. lack of differentiation
“2,500 brands we studied over three years time, where almost 70% were
stagnant or declining in differentiation”
“ Positioning guru Jack Trout and Kevin Clancyʼs research found that brand
differentiation declined in 40 of 46 categories as studied by Copernicus/
Market Facts.”
“Only 7% of prime time commercials were found to have differentiating
messages.”
14. lack of courage
Brands have increasing difficulty in
differentiating themselves.
The only way they can create a realizable
competitive advantage is by having a
distinctive point of view.
However stepping outside of the norms is
highly risky.
There is safety in being in the pack.
Courage means confronting the anxiety that
goes with difficult choices and then
committing to the ideas that ensue.
21. smell of fear
A recent study confirms presence of fear alarm center and alarm
pheromones in the olfactory system.
Grueneberg ganglion at the tip of a nose contains olfactory
neurons with some specialized chemosensory functions.
Source: Julien Brechbühl, Magali Klaey and Marie Broillet from University of Lausanne, Science in August 2008
23. a word on research
• methodology - quantitative, qualitative
• sample size - cca 50 respondents
• interviews
• self-study
• errors - ambiguity of fear
31. leading yourself, employees and partners
yes
no
34,5% leader
67,3%
36,4% employees, teams
67,3%
40,0%
leading leading
employees & teams suppliers & partners
45. 10 freedoms from fear
1. Keep it low.
2. Create culture free from fear.
46. 10 freedoms from fear
1. Keep it low.
2. Create culture free from fear.
3. Find your own tribe/s.
47. 10 freedoms from fear
1. Keep it low.
2. Create culture free from fear.
3. Find your own tribe/s.
4. Stop the brand prostitution.
48. 10 freedoms from fear
1. Keep it low.
2. Create culture free from fear.
3. Find your own tribe/s.
4. Stop the brand prostitution.
5. Use your nose to smell the fear.
49. 10 freedoms from fear
1. Keep it low.
2. Create culture free from fear.
3. Find your own tribe/s.
4. Stop the brand prostitution.
5. Use your nose to smell the fear.
6. Do you really need to test?
50. 10 freedoms from fear
1. Keep it low.
2. Create culture free from fear.
3. Find your own tribe/s.
4. Stop the brand prostitution.
5. Use your nose to smell the fear.
6. Do you really need to test?
7. Middle is trouble.
51. 10 freedoms from fear
1. Keep it low.
2. Create culture free from fear.
3. Find your own tribe/s.
4. Stop the brand prostitution.
5. Use your nose to smell the fear.
6. Do you really need to test?
7. Middle is trouble.
8. Linear thinking is predictable.
52. 10 freedoms from fear
1. Keep it low.
2. Create culture free from fear.
3. Find your own tribe/s.
4. Stop the brand prostitution.
5. Use your nose to smell the fear.
6. Do you really need to test?
7. Middle is trouble.
8. Linear thinking is predictable.
9. Familiar is dangerous.
53. 10 freedoms from fear
1. Keep it low.
2. Create culture free from fear.
3. Find your own tribe/s.
4. Stop the brand prostitution.
5. Use your nose to smell the fear.
6. Do you really need to test?
7. Middle is trouble.
8. Linear thinking is predictable.
9. Familiar is dangerous.
10. Have no set rules.