What Toilets Can Teach You about Management
- 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.
- Stay focused. Notice that a toilet flushes the same direction every time. That’s consistency.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Running toilets are wasteful. Don’t pour too much into your management decisions. Remember, there should be a time limit.
- Don’t be out of TP. Contingency planning will help assure that you stay on a roll next time an issue comes up.
- Newspapers are sometimes helpful. Background reading can help any managerial decision. Make sure you are prepared for your next management experience.
- Don’t accept the false dichotomy of #1 or #2. Remember, management is about synergies.
- 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.