Is the Problem Your Employees or You?
Summary
- When making cookies, I learned that experimenting with ingredients and cooking times can improve the outcome. For instance, adding more butter and reducing cook time by four minutes helped when my first batch was too dry.
- It’s crucial to communicate clear and effective instructions. If you get poor results, assess whether the instructions were the problem, not just blame others for bad execution.
- Question assumptions about whether an error was due to poor instructions or execution. It’s easy to blame the outcome on others, but the real issue might be inadequate guidance.
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How To Take Action
I would suggest experimenting with different approaches in your business or personal growth, much like adjusting cookie ingredients and baking times. Start with small tweaks to your processes or behaviors and observe what works best. For example, if a strategy seems too “dry,” like my first batch of cookies, try adding a “butter equivalent”—a new tool, skill, or adjustment—to improve the outcome.
A good way of improving communication is to ensure instructions are clear and precise. Whenever you encounter a problem, like ineffective results, pause and evaluate whether the instructions you provided were the real issue. Ask yourself if any assumptions were made that could have led to misunderstandings.
I'd recommend questioning your assumptions about mistakes. It’s easy to blame others, but take a moment to consider if there’s a clarity gap in your guidance. Is the problem poor execution or unclear directions? This self-reflection can prevent future mishaps and build stronger working relationships.
Finally, always be open to feedback and willing to adjust based on observations, much like in the cookie experiment. Improving isn't just about making changes but also about learning from every trial. This mindset will continually drive you toward better outcomes with minimal cost and time investment.
