"The Leadership Stew": A Metaphor
This is a Story about Leadership. It is also about all the other roles for leadership alone does not make the stew. Everyone has a role to play, and everyone contributing makes for the best stew, the best community. - Bernie
The facilitator starts by saying, “This is a story about leadership.” Everyone usually sits up and is ready to go. This is followed by the question “So, how do you cook a stew?”
The look on their faces is confusion! What does cooking a stew have to do with leadership?
The story continues. “So, if we are going to cook a stew, what do we need?”
Still confused.
The group usually needs some help here, so the facilitator lets them know there is no right answer. A stew is a hodgepodge of various ingredients anyway.
Let’s make a Stew
Then it begins. “So, what do we need?”
“We need a pot,” someone yells. “Ok, we have a start!”
“We need water.”
“How about some potatoes?”
“Celery.”
“Carrots.”
“Beef.” (Now we are rolling!)
“We need a cook. Hey, this is about leadership,” adds a voice from the back of the room.
Things usually start to slow down about now. Someone will usually add some more vegetables and some spices. But the question still remains, “What does cooking a stew have to do with leadership?” That question will have to wait. Then they get the next question.
The Next Question
The next question usually catches the group flatfooted: ”Would you eat that?”
“No!” “Absolutely not!” Got it. “Ok, why not?”
“It’s not cooked.” “It doesn’t taste good.” And so it goes.
And here comes the first leadership lesson.
If you think about it, the ingredients are a lot like people. They must share if we want to create a great stew. So, how do we get the ingredients to share?
The response comes quickly now.
“Put the heat to it!”
“Stir it!”
“Put a lid on it and put it under pressure!”
“Let it cool!”
“Ok, now would you eat it?” “ Yes, absolutely!”
The Last Leadership Lesson
So, we have now made a great stew. The last question in this simple story is “Where is leadership exhibited?”
Again, the answers come fast, but always off point.
“Leadership is applying the heat!”
“Real leadership is about applying pressure!”
“The leader is the cook, stirring the pot and making things happen!”
“No!” The leader is the POT!
Our traditional thinking of a leader is someone who makes things happen. Before the stew is cooked, it is in a state of equilibrium. A change has to take place. The change happens with heat and pressure to create a new state of disequilibrium. Things are at a boil and very chaotic. During this period of chaos, things, people, and ingredients will want to revert to the old safe way. As it cools, a new state of equilibrium is achieved. A change has taken place.
True leaders hold everything (organizations and stews) together as change takes place.
Final takeaway: as you lead the process of change…Be The Pot.
The Ingredients and Their Roles:
The Meat:
Individuals with strong leadership skills and experience. They act as pillars and provide structure to the team.
The Vegetables:
Individuals with specialized skills and knowledge. They bring diverse perspectives and add complexity to the team.
The Spices (The role Bernie briefly stepped into)
Individuals who are innovative and creative add flair and excitement to the team.
The Seasoning
Individuals who are supportive and collaborative add a sense of unity and harmony.
The Cooking Process:
Preparation: Identifying the strengths and weaknesses of each "ingredient" and understanding how they can contribute to the final dish.
Heating: Applying pressure and guidance to help individuals adapt and work together.
Simmering: Allowing the team to develop organically, with the leader providing a supportive environment.
Tasting: Assessing the team's progress and making adjustments as needed.
The Final Stew:
A well-cooked stew is a delicious and satisfying meal, just as a cohesive and productive team is a valuable asset. The success of the stew, like the success of the team, depends on the leader's ability to bring all the ingredients together in the right proportions, at the right time, and with the right approach.
The Moral of the Story:
Effective leadership is not about dictating or controlling; it's about understanding, guiding, and inspiring others to work together toward a common goal. Just as a chef uses the right ingredients and techniques to create a delicious stew, a leader uses their skills and understanding to create a thriving team.
Front Page Forum Post
Safety: Thank You, Selectboard and Residents
Bernie Paquette • Browns Trace, Jericho
Posted to: Jericho
Gratitude
Thank you, Selectboard members and residents, for your gracious allowance in time to listen to the Slower and Safer Streets presentation at the Selectboard meeting. Thank you to the many individuals who took the time to sit down with me one-on-one to share their concerns, views, and suggestions for safety. Thank you to those who engaged in the discussion via FPF and other ways. I hope the dialogue continues. We ALL want to feel safe and comfortable in EACH of our neighborhoods.
I think this short story titled "The Leadership Stew" is an appropriate summary regarding the safety discussion.
Addressing our safety concerns requires extensive dialogue.
Dialogue is hard work, takes a lot of time, but is essential to our town's democracy. Dialogue brings us together even when we have different experiences, views, and live in various parts of town. Dialogue brings out the best solutions, diminishes apathy and angst.
Bernie
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