Jell-O was a staple at our house growing up. Known more simply as gelatin or jelly in other parts of the world, this simple and classic treat is a fun and easy snack to enjoy with others. Jell-O might even be able to provide us with a reminder or two about leadership in the workplace and at home as well.
Simple is good
Jell-O is extremely simple and easy to make. Take the gelatin out of the package, add some boiling water, stir, add cold water, stir, refrigerate, and done. The treat is extremely easy to make, and that’s one of the reasons why it’s fun to make with children. It’s simple for them to do and hard to ruin or mess up.
The simplicity of Jell-O is a constant reminder that I need for myself and my team. I’ve seen high-performing individuals and teams go all in to tackle a problem, and in doing so, bring a giant PowerPoint presentation and complex interventions to meet the need. “If one solution will help mitigate the problem, surely 5 solutions will do even more?”
A term I use with my stakeholders and problem solvers is that simplicity wins over polish or process. Your end user will almost always prefer some simple and easy to use compared to something that is slick but complicated to navigate. Simplicity really applies to all areas, not just technology and interface solutions. A simple cadence on a calendar (Every first Monday is our Executive townhall), an easy way to check job openings, and a simple process to get the required work done go a long way.
Avoid the temptation of over-complicating your solutions and work. Your stakeholders and clients will appreciate it.
Be moldable
Jell-O molds! A simple search on the internet will give you nearly endless options of gelatin molds as you make your next treat. They were all the rage growing up. Who didn’t want to eat a gelatin R2-D2? One of the pluses of Jell-O is that it’s truly moldable to be whatever you want it to be.
Having the ability to be moldable is important to be a great leader and a wonderful citizen in your community. I think what is perhaps even more important, and difficult, is the ability to stay modlable throughout your career and life. You are typically much more open to feedback, knowledge transfer, and adaptable when you are younger and eager to grow or fit in. As you get older, it becomes easier to get set in habits, biases, and ways of work and living. Some of that is due to beginning to feel comfortable and not feeling the need to stay nimble. Other times, past success lends itself to becoming less moldable. Why change a winning formula?
Staying moldable means:
- Flexibility and adaptability: Check yourself on your reactions to change that has recently occurred in your personal and professional life. How did you do? How resistant were you? What did you learn, or what skill did you gain?
- Openness to learning: Speaking of learning and skills, what have you learned just in your regular life journey? Are things stale, or have you chased curiosity?
- Resilience: How well, or not so well, did you weather a setback? Do you handle setbacks differently? Perhaps you have led through a big change at work well, but get overly frustrated at home during a small inconvenience. Your resilience can look different in different scenarios and environments.
Follow the rules…. or not
My mom could make us this fruit cocktail mix of gelatin and mixed fruit, and put them in these little glass containers for us to enjoy in the fridge. You wouldn’t find that unique mix in the recipe box. Some people put fruit in theirs, others add things like candy and even vegastables, while others will freeze it for a new, exciting consistency.
My mentor Paul Herman shared an illustration that to 20 years later, still resonates with me. He told the story of a good sports coach who helped the players play their position to the best of their abilities but was also open enough to allow their personalites and skillsets to shine. The coach wasn’t concerned if someone was a little showy, if one took the most direct route possible, and a third focused on speed instead of strength. As long as all of them understood the rules and could get a score, the other stuff didn’t matter as much.
There is certainly some maturity in that style of leadership – to let others shine, even if it means letting go of some of your personal preferences. Sometimes it’s ok to go out and try something new as long as you stay within the basic parameters expected for success.
Keep it simple, remain moldable, and remember that it’s ok to try new things in leadership and life. Be like Jell-O – a simple treat for others to enjoy.
Make a better tomorrow.
-ZH
