On the odd occasion I watch shows like Masterchef, the episodes I remember are the ones that revolve around a theme such as ‘the humble egg,’ where the chefs need to make a hero out of the simple, everyday ingredient.
These episodes stand out not only because they tend to reflect my basic cooking skills, (I can cook the egg but that’s about it!) but also because during my work with leaders and teams, it’s often the humble basics that are missing in the essential ingredients of excellent team work, performance or leadership.
One of these basics is the humble conversation.
Master the humble conversation and whole new recipes will open up to you. Recipes that create incredible communication, team bonding and clarity and trust in leadership. Recipes that can turn cultures on their head and result in loyalty and zest for work.
If there’s something that needs to be fixed at work, ask yourself first – how many conversations are being had? How transparent are those conversations and are they happening at all levels – up, down and across the team or organisation?
If they’re not happening, ask yourself why. Yes, you may feel awkward, apprehensive or averse to facing the conversational unknown. But you can gain so much if you persevere and let conversations unfold.
Just like the humble egg, never underestimate the layers that can emerge from a conversation, or the hollandaise sauce richness that is created from a conversation habit!