A leader is someone who brings something new to the table.
What do I mean?
Imagine a bunch of chefs making a cake. As long as you keep doing it the same way, the cake will end up the same each and everytime. Even if you change the steps, like mixing it a bit more, baking it for a little less time, a dash less of this, a dash more of that, the cake will turn out roughly the same. A chocolate cake doesn’t turn into a strawberry cake just because you mixed it counterclockwise instead of clockwise.
But there’s the clue. The secret to making a cake different is to bring a new ingredient to the mix. Something the other chefs wouldn’t have thought to (the ones who thought mixing it counterclockwise would have done the trick) but you do.
What new ingredient to the mix could you bring to the table? In your worklife, your social life, your relationships, your diet, or maybe just in the next cake you bake?
I’m curious to see what you think. If you get a new idea leave a comment.
November 24th, 2005 at 1:48 am
It’s about making the difference that makes the difference, isn’t it?
When I start out as a coach, I realise that what I can consistently bring to the table is an awareness that there are more than one way to look at what the person I am coaching is facing.
Thanks Alvin for this thought-provoking post. A fitting analogy even.
When we contemplate our place in this world. Isn’t it amazing that we can often find instances of how saying one simple word or offering a small gesture of appreciation can change someone’s perception of this being a better world?
Have you wondered how you come to be at the right place at the right time to say or do the right thing?
Are you like many nay-sayers out there who will only focus on the negative aspects of things?
What can you do about it?
Simply by training your subconsciousness to tune in to the good stuff by breaking your old mould. It’s as easy as changing the small habits and expanding your awareness of the good things that will come your way.
Challenge yourself. I bet the 1st person to add a little salt to a cake-mix didn’t realise it makes the cake taste better. You don’t have to do outrageous things to get outrageous results!
A small shift in words, thoughts and actions is all we need. A butterfly flapping it’s wings in Beijing could be the cause of a storm system half way round the world.
When was the last time you realise that rubbing the salt in prevents infection?
A rolling moss gathers no stone.
A stitch of nine saves time.
You cna pbobraly usnatdrnsed waht tihs snetnece mnaes eevn if teh slenlipg is a bit werid.
You are aware of the feeling you have in your nose now.
Have fun discovering. Let’s start sharing.
November 25th, 2005 at 12:48 am
ya, it’s the little that we do, the little that we share, that creates the pleasant smile and chain effect of feeling good from one to another. Thus creates a chain cycle where the little things we do that warm hearts, comes back somehow making us feel good for no good reason. (;>) (=P)
November 25th, 2005 at 12:59 am
Hm…. guess it’s like creating a little more awareness to the interesting, positive aura around us (exercising our sub-concious mind, tuning towards the pleasant forces) with a sudden spur of instinct to do alittle that makes a difference.
Like a smile to a wrinkled old man passing by, or a little baby boy crying. Sharing a little force of positivity with them. =) =P
Cheers,
Tas.
December 1st, 2005 at 1:12 am
“A leader is someone who brings something new to the table.” — True only to some extent. I’d add that the leader brings something *clearer* to the table. It may not always be something new, but the leader would always need to provide clarify.
December 1st, 2005 at 5:46 am
To be fair to Alvin, I don’t think he meant to say “A leader is someone who brings something new to the table…..PERIOD.”
The focus of this post is “something new”
I agree with clarity and that means adjusting the perspective of how things are seen and to a larger extent… that is “something new”, isn’t it?
IMHO, making things “clearer” for a leader is contextual. Providing clarity and having to clarify leadership decisions to followers are different.
In observing group and personal dynamics, I have noticed that sometimes a series of clearly defined objectives is not as effective as broad fuzzy vision of what needs to be achieved.
The former allows for better control and may limit creativity and forsight. The latter allows for flexibility and adaptability. In fast changing times, the leader has to become more charismatic, more adaptable and more circumspective.
The ability to bring something new to the table is crucial especially to a leader who wants to stay ahead. Break old moulds, shift paradigms, think out of the box and of course be clear about it.
December 1st, 2005 at 11:30 pm
Hi Ivan!
Sorry I can’t help but chuckle…I’m wondering if you just brought something new to the table or if you just help clarified whatever was already there.
You can tell I’m someone who loves humour. I also love a good discussion, so welcome to the table!
I agree with you…leaders fulfill so many functions sometimes, and group dynamics can be so fluid that leadership roles flow from one person to the next indistinguishably.
Whatever the case, I wanted to highlight something I felt useful in my own life, when things were going tough and could have turned out for the worst, pulling this principle out has helped me lots.
It was inspired by (paraphrasing) Einstein; ‘the level of thinking that has gotten us to the problem will not get us to the solution.’
What he meant was that to get us somewhere different from the current situation, we had to think differently. And thinking differently can mean either putting a new slant on things (eg. clarification) or adding new dimensions (adding a new ingredient).
In any case, I think we’re both bringing new things to the leadership table now, which is fun
August 11th, 2008 at 5:55 am
You are so right! Bringing something new to a recipe can change everything. More than that is to make it look different. Like a chocolate basket of strawberries. Check it out and let me know your thoughs? Do I pass? Steph