Want to be a leader? Wash the Dishes When Nobody Else Will.
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Re: Want to be a leader? Wash the Dishes When Nobody Else Will.
#2Early in my career, I asked a co-worker why he didn't complain about doing the shitty maintenance coding which no one wanted. His reply in essence: because someone has to do the crappy stuff.
My respect for him went up that day, but I discovered the leadership aspect of that attitude only years later when I applied it as a manager. Thank you, Paul!
Re: Want to be a leader? Wash the Dishes When Nobody Else Will.
#3...once. Just show that even you aren't too good to do the hard stuff. Don't waste your time washing dishes when you actually need to be doing other things.
Re: Want to be a leader? Wash the Dishes When Nobody Else Will.
#4Early in my career, I asked a co-worker why he didn't complain about doing the shitty maintenance coding which no one wanted. His reply in essence: because someone has to do the crappy stuff. My respect for him went up that day, but I discovered the leadership aspect of that attitude only years later when I applied it as a manager. Thank you, Paul!
Also, you the Mighty Developer of Mightiness, need to spend some time on the scut work so you can figure how to reduce the need for it.
Re: Want to be a leader? Wash the Dishes When Nobody Else Will.
#5...once. Just show that even you aren't too good to do the hard stuff. Don't waste your time washing dishes when you actually need to be doing other things.
I think the point here isn't just that the CEO was performing a mundane task, but that he was doing work that had to get done, even though it wasn't a desirable task. There was a giant pile of dishes - he cleaned them. The dishes were the thing that needed to get done.
If he does it just once, I question his motives. This repeated behavior shows his true conviction.
Re: Want to be a leader? Wash the Dishes When Nobody Else Will.
#6Nope, now you're the dishwasher. At least in my experience; if you do something that other people don't want to do, you're now the "that thing" guy for life.
Re: Want to be a leader? Wash the Dishes When Nobody Else Will.
#7The CEO only accomplishes 1 thing by doing the dishes: He shames everyone who sees him doing their job.
He doesn't get my respect for it, especially if he does it more than once. It means he failed as a leader to get people to do their job, or even to have someone to do that job.
Sometimes, it's necessary to roll up your sleeves and get some work done, but if you are doing other peoples' jobs, it means you aren't doing your own.
Re: Want to be a leader? Wash the Dishes When Nobody Else Will.
#8...once. Just show that even you aren't too good to do the hard stuff. Don't waste your time washing dishes when you actually need to be doing other things.
I think the point here isn't just that the CEO was performing a mundane task, but that he was doing work that had to get done, even though it wasn't a desirable task. There was a giant pile of dishes - he cleaned them. The dishes were the thing that needed to get done. If he does it just once, I question his motives. This repeated behavior shows his true conviction.
CEO's need to lead; exceptional behavior creates a buzz. This is morale building advice, not socialism.
His motive? to show that no one is too good to do the hard stuff. Its a stunt, but its a lesson too. Everybody will get that.
Re: Want to be a leader? Wash the Dishes When Nobody Else Will.
#9Now you're the dishwasher. You failed 'wanting to be a leader' when you didn't convince anyone to wash the dishes, which is why now you have to do it.
Re: Want to be a leader? Wash the Dishes When Nobody Else Will.
#10#cheeseAlert
That was a pretty profound lesson I just learned.