If you want to start a quick argument with a loved one, try telling him or her how to load a dishwasher. Dishwashers are designed to give the owner a lot of possibilities. Possibilities lead to preferences. And once someone has a preferred way to do something, his or her way becomes the only way.The options with a dishwasher can be endless.
Should the top row just be for glasses and mugs? Should plates face the same direction. Don’t forget the always popular question, “Should I wash food off my plates before I put them in my dishwasher?”
It’s likely that you would let a friend drive your car, borrow your lawn mower, or watch your kids before you would let them fill your dishwasher. If you see that someone has loaded it differently, do you feel compelled to “correct” their error.
If you think you’re a flexible person who can adjust easily to change, then I dare you to change the way you fill your dishwasher for a couple of weeks. While it’s not a life threatening issue, it’s not easy to change the way you do things. Even if the Maytag Repair Man showed up at my home with the proper procedure, I probably wouldn’t follow it.
Now think what it’s like for a company to introduce a change to its employees. While it may be something that can boost productivity and the bottom line, will your team be willing to embrace something new?
You can introduce policies that change the way you do business but audiences tell me that getting people to embrace them is another matter. I help them let go of the old ways and clear the path to something new.
Maybe you’re happy with the way you wash dishes. Or maybe you know there could be a better way.
