Find me a dandelion.

bydavebux

2.1K followers

2 months ago

Every now and then, I will begin a new video and then have a hmmm! moment – and ask myself if I am sticking to the original intentions. Do I start again, or do I rename the video to match what I have done.

In my mind, I always go back to the dandelion moment – and I repeat it here in the hope that it might help some of the people here, some of the time.

Many years ago, I changed jobs, changed towns, changed houses and changed wives – all in one weekend – a story best saved for later.

Anyway … back to dandelions - I joined a large multinational company with a manufacturing site in the UK and about 1500 staff in total. The original plan was to stay for a few months, get myself sorted and start up on my own again. I was still there ten years later. I had responsibility for just over 300 operators, engineers, supervisors etc. and quickly realized that the whole set up lacked organisation. The workforce, generally, did what the workforce wanted. There was no sticking to schedules, no desire to meet production targets and a complete lack of discipline. Most of the other managers opted for an easy life and would sit in the canteens smoking and chatting. They may, on a good day, show their face in their own department later in the afternoon, but for now … another coffee Jack.

Not for me, I gathered my supervisors together and formulated, between us, a plan of action. We would introduce a new layer of Team Leaders. We would give each of them a small group to direct and look after and make each team aware of their own team’s goals and targets. The theory behind it was that if the individual teams performed well, then collectively the whole department would perform too. But how to select the right people. How do we find the team leaders, the one’s that will focus on what they have to do, get on with it and bring in the results.

We advertised internally for the team leader positions, sifted through them and selected several for the interview process. True to my own “out of the box” style, the actual interview style was also a little unorthodox.

One question for example was - “tell me the advantages of a round storm drain cover, compared to a square one” We didn’t manufacture drain covers by the way, we made computer parts. I didn’t care what they answered, there was no right or wrong, I just wanted an answer that made sense.

And then each candidate was asked to take the digital camera that we gave them, go out and photograph a dandelion, print the picture of it and bring the camera and the picture back in one hour. This was a really telling thing.

The key points were …

1. Photograph a dandelion – only one dandelion was asked for.

2. Print it.

3. Come back in one hour.

How they responded was very telling.

Some came back with a print of a whole field of dandelions.

Others returned with the photograph still in the camera but no print. “I couldn’t find a printer” or “I didn’t know how to use the printer”

One came back with the print but had left the camera on the shop floor.

And one had even counted all the petals on the dandelion – close to 200 as I recall.

And some took over an hour.

Just 4 came back with the camera, and a print and in one hour.

They proved to be excellent team leaders, focused, very driven and with a clear understanding of what achieving the objective actually meant. They were so good that we even put them through a recognized certification program for supervisory management. Something to take with them through their careers.

Now … about the others – all that they had to do was to follow the requirements.

A single dandelion – if one computer part goes in one box, don’t put two parts in – it costs us money.

Print it. – finish the job. Whatever it takes, get it printed. Sell your soul, beg someone else to print it for you, do whatever it takes, but just get it printed.

Come back in one hour – learn time management.

And I still think of the dandelion whenever I am embarking on a new project, a new video. Maybe you can take something from this in your own daily activities.

What is actually required

What is the customer expecting

When must it be completed by.

Let me know if this was useful, it may be that you have a similar method that helps you to focus. It’s good to share – especially the disasters. Don’t be shy – tell us.

Good luck everyone

Bux

PS - Oh yes, the round drain cover. The best two answers, first - you can roll it into position and second - you can’t drop a round cover through its own hole.