I have a friend who is an outstanding baker—the person who made elaborate desserts for everything from baby showers to book club nights. But her meticulous approach drastically changed after her twins were born. She volunteers for their kindergarten class and now feeds a mob of 5-year-olds with help from the baking aisle. Boxed cake mixes have come a long way, baby!
Can you relate to being caught in the crosshairs between tradition and efficiency? What’s more, are you having an uncomfortable realization that maybe you’ve put value on doing things a certain way because it’s hard?
It’s time for a change of heart. Choosing to put that hard-knock story to rest isn’t a new idea or a cop-out—it’s been around for centuries. Leonardo da Vinci famously said, “Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.”
So, let’s meet someone who can show what it looks like to change struggle into streamlining.
Barefoot Contessa Ina Garten has an idea to make hosting Thanksgiving more fun: Throw out recipes that are too complicated!
Are you gasping, startled at the advice from a best-selling cookbook author with plenty of staff to boot? Believe it.
Garten advises cultivating the wisdom to know when to hit the ripcord. In a conversation with “60 Minutes”, Ina was asked if she ever throws out a delicious recipe that is just too difficult to make.
“Absolutely!” she replied enthusiastically. “If I get to a point in a recipe and I go, I’m never going to make this recipe again, everything goes in the trash. If you’re exhausted by the time you finish, it’s not good for the party.”
Streamlining dinner became such a passion that it became the basis for Garten’s new book, Go-To Dinners. She’s rebooted mealtime from a multi-course event to a list of greatest hits, like chocolate cake and roast chicken. Simplicity isn’t a nice-to-have; it’s non-negotiable.
In the November series, Soft Skills for You 2.0, we’re discussing how to handle the most uncomfortable conversation of all: The one you must have with yourself.
It’s challenging to admit that “hard” isn’t somehow automatically superior to “streamlined.” However, that’s what Ina Garten did. She had the clarity and courage to look at all the steps and time required by some recipes and think, This is nuts! Is there a situation or two where you could apply her thinking?
Here’s why you may want to change your mind: The work-all-night, do-everything superhero, endless hustle archetype is on its way out. They’re no longer the picture of productivity or leadership. The pandemic has proven that long hours and valuable results can be mutually exclusive.
Instead, what’s a quality everyone loves? Streamlining. Colleagues and managers alike are drawn to the person who can translate complex ideas into simple ones, keep workstreams clean and moving, and maintain a sense of humor while they’re at it. You can be that person.
Make streamlining real and say goodbye to old-fashioned ways of working with soft skill How tactics like creativity, adaptability, and smart choices. Here’s how to start:
Sometimes the hack, the help, or the fresh idea is what is needed most. So, reframe streamlining if you have doubts or feel like you’re cutting corners, quality, or excellence. Instead, consider shifting to easier methodology as a smart, chic, and sophisticated choice. That’s how you get to You 2.0.
If you’re new to soft skills or want a refresher, boss up with my free 15-minute course, “Soft Skills Basics in a Flash.” You’ll learn what soft skills are, why people who understand soft skills stand out in a crowd, and practical, actionable ways to use soft skills every day. With the bonus 1-pager, “7 Ways to Pitch Your Soft Skills Superpower” in your back pocket, you’ll leave calm, self-assured, and ready to speak soft skills with anyone who asks.