I have found a great deal of personal confidence by using Eric as an executive coach.
The Perfect Glass of Beer
I once heard someone describe a bar owner who decided that every beer served in his establishment should have a perfect head of foam on it. More foam on top meant less beer being served, and less beer served meant lower costs and higher profits. Plus, the foam made the beer look great.
This owner mounted a life-size picture of the perfect beer above the tap where only the bartenders and waitresses could see it. That way, all employees had to do was make sure that the beer they pulled from the tap looked exactly like the beer in the picture. Foolproof!
Several months passed by. The restaurant owner could see that the beers being served were consistently topped with the perfect head of foam. His plan seemed to be working until one day he observed a waitress hold a mug of beer up to the picture, and then pour the beer down the drain. The owner was furious!
When confronted, the waitress replied that she had been told to only serve a beer if it matched the picture – and it always took her two to three tries to get it right.
Performance Principle: In order to execute effectively, we need to understand WHY we are being asked to do something. When we understand the reason behind the task, we can make decisions that get us closer to our goal. If the waitress understood that reducing costs – rather than ideal appearance – was the reason behind the perfect glass of beer, she could have adjusted her behavior accordingly.
Questions to Consider:
- What are the top 3 priorities of your team?
- Why are these important?
- Does everyone on your team understand these priorities and the reasons for them?
Note: I have been unable to verify the original source of this story, but it has appeared elsewhere in published form.
