TOO MANY COOKS IN THE KITCHEN

By Vernalee

Once our tummies are full from a hearty meal, it’s a perfect time to talk about cooks and cooking. I’ve added a twist or two to “spice” up our discussion. Here we go! The phrase, “Too many cooks in the kitchen” generally refers to too many people working on the same project with no central direction while achieving inferior results. They are busy cooking and dicing ingredients, but no one knows what the other is doing. Although the meal is prepared, it doesn’t taste the best or reflect superior quality. Let’s move this scenario from the kitchen.

When directions to perform tasks are coming from too many people, you usually end up with an organized mess! When that happens, the tasks at hand do not get readily accomplished or they are performed in a substandard fashion. The absence of leadership is a major stumbling block.

It begs to ask, "Who’s in charge?" Is it - Everybody, somebody, anybody, or nobody!

Think about it! If there is a strong leader, it doesn’t matter how many people or cooks - there are. A good leader gives clear cut and solid directions. A good leader trims the fat.

They are followed and they follow. He/she can “cook” up a storm and is not afraid to get their hands dirty. They are credible, respected, and their judgment is trusted. They even know how to stop talking and listen!

Wow! They are what they purport to be; they walk the talk. People follow them instinctively in the kitchen, in the office, in life.

Being responsible is a prerequisite. When a leader fails to reasonably exercise control, no one wins. Mediocrity at best is served ... and who wants that!

Strong capable leadership takes many burden/worries away. When that happens, we can cook up a storm, sit back, relax, and eat a full course meal.

Now that's what I'm talking about! Photo credit: www.boomtownroi.com

I ONLY HAVE TWO HANDS!

By Vernalee

Hold on! Wait a minute! Give me some time to catch up. There is only so much that I can do in a day. Admittedly, I am capable of performing several tasks simultaneously, but truly I only have two hands! You may think differently, but it is a biological fact. For most of us, multitasking becomes a necessity of survival at home and at work. Being a Jack or Jill of All Trades who can do – a little bit of this and a little bit of that – helps. Versatility is the name of the game. In our fast paced environment, if you cannot walk and chew bubble gum at the same time, you are in trouble. It is wise however to analyze tasks and determine an approach before you get started. By doing so, you can review the options, techniques, and time savers. Becoming more tech savvy is a critical necessity. Technology and its gadgets have simplified and added speed to many functions. They have enhanced our productivity and made us “Working Wonders.” They add more horsepower which fuels our levels of expertise, efficiency, and organization. Tasks that once took hours now only take minutes. Proficiently is the name of the game. The more time that I can save on tasks; the more time I have for myself. It’s just that – plain and simple. So watch me intelligently and efficiently work; then, watch me comfortably and enjoyably relax! That doesn't mean that you can still send tasks my way. Now, if you do disregard my “no work zone“ status and send work anyway during my rest and relaxation period, one of my hands can ignore it, while the other can pretend that it doesn’t exist. That's why I have two! Photo credit: www.saturdayeveningpost.com

THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX

By Vernalee

Sometimes, it cannot always be business as usual. Change is necessary to foster progress. For many, change poses a reluctance. Why upset the apple cart? However, change is imperative in many situations, which brings me to one of my favorite management cliches: Thinking outside the box. “Thinking outside the box is a metaphor that means to think differently, unconventionally, or from a new perspective. It refers to novel or creative thinking. To think outside the box is to look further and to try not thinking of the obvious things, but to try thinking of the things beyond them.” To do so may require a paradigm shift in our thought processes and our methodology to problem solving. In that light, I share with you many wise sayings that will if no more encourage critical thinking. Here goes: * When nothing goes right … Go left. * “Instead of thinking outside the box, get rid of the box.” (Deepak Chopra) * Thinking is not enough, you have to act. * “Being able to think outside the box presupposes you were able to think in it.” (Bob Lutz). * To live a creative life, we must lose our fear of being wrong. * “The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge, but imagination.” (Albert Einstein). I occasionally think out loud. Yes, I have been known from time to time to put on my thinking hat. To “Vernalize” this point, I share with you one of my personal mottos which reflects how I think. “If it is to be, it is left up to me.”

When you are “it,” you not only think outside of the box, you move the box and do what is necessary “to make ends meet“ as you mobilize your agenda ...whether you are in or out of the box! Photo credit: www.xplor.org