Ladders of management, part 1...
How many times have you done something, whether at work or at home, without a thought on why you are doing it? I bet you have done it today, and will do it, after reading this story. Most of us, doing things because that is what and how they are always done.
People, including myself, following processes without a care on the “why”. It has been said that a lot of the world’s wasted time and effort is due to people not aligning WHAT they are doing to the WHY. Or having a great WHY, but not knowing the HOW and the WHAT to connect with.
To help us, schools have come up with the WHY/WHAT & HOW model of management. The theory goes something like:
WHY you are performing a task
WHAT you will do to complete the task set in the WHY
HOW you will do the WHAT set in the WHY
I have found that this model of thinking can be applied to nearly all circumstances, no matter how complicated or simple they may appear. As my dad recently illustrated in the kitchen whilst wearing Marigolds;
WHY: I want a happy wife
WHAT: The dishes will be cleaned
HOW: I will clean the dishes with minimal fuss!
As you see, the model can even be applied to deliver sage-like matrimonial advice! To help make more general points, however, we will use the context of walls and ladders. In this analogy it follows;
WHY: To get to the top of the wall
WHAT: Using a ladder to get to the top
HOW: Climb the ladder step by step
At this point I simply want to outline broad strokes to help set the scene. This will then allow part 2 where I can illustrate a few nuances that practitioners of the WHY/WHAT/HOW model let slip through the cracks.
For now, spare a thought during your day for the WHY behind what you are doing. Once you do this, assess whether the WHAT and How align to the WHY. It is possible that you may find they are not fit for purpose anymore and require a rethink and adjustment to better achieve the WHY.
Oh, and there is always the WHY behind the WHY! In the context of Dads’ washing dishes:
WHY behind the WHY: A happy wife means a happy Life!
Part 2 to follow…