What Toilets Can Teach You about Management

  1. Don’t meet a topic head on. Circle around it first. It might be unpleasant at first, but eventually you’ll find deeper meaning. Think Dante here.
  2. Stay focused. Notice that a toilet flushes the same direction every time. That’s consistency.
  3. Fill up your tanks. Be sure to refill your managerial potential. Remember, toilets always have a reservoir of potential. Make sure yours is not depleted.  Otherwise, you might be SOL.
  4. If the seat is up, be sure to lower it. Be considerate of others. This way, no one falls into excrement. In other words, assure that people have a seat at the table and are empowered.
  5. Employees should wash their hands. Wash your hands after a managerial decision. In other words, don’t let yourself get sick over the residual effects of the management process.
  6. Running toilets are wasteful. Don’t pour too much into your management decisions. Remember, there should be a time limit.
  7. Don’t be out of TP.   Contingency planning will help assure that you stay on a roll next time an issue comes up.
  8. Newspapers are sometimes helpful. Background reading can help any managerial decision. Make sure you are prepared for your next management experience.
  9. Don’t accept the false dichotomy of #1 or #2. Remember, management is about synergies.
  10. Locked stalls make for good neighbors. Never get caught with your pants down at a meeting.

With a little help from our friend the toilet, you can be an excellent manager, and perhaps write a management blog post such as this one.