Like Sugar

If you do the Twitter thing, follow me at @HousingITguy
or LinkedIn here https://uk.linkedin.com/in/tonysmiththathousingitguy


A lovely tweet from a lovely site I work with, got me thinking today. They were suggesting rewarding staff with mugs of Haribo’s, leaving gifts to say, “Hey we appreciate you sugar”. Awww, isn’t that the greatest? Wow, you are part of our lovely team and here’s a sugar rush treat.

Wow, most of us spend more time at work than we do with all our significant others. Why cannot we make it more pleasurable, more productive and it flies past. We hardly know when 5.15pm has come and gone.

Homes In Sedgemoor is where the tweet came from, (Somerset that is not Geordie land – for the record). An ALMO where I have seen fantastic evolution, and massive positive effects on the communities in which it works. It’s a place I am slightly gushy about and that’s quite rare TBH.

Anyway back to the sugar. Its been a bit of a secret weapon from the food industry for yonks, but its been a tool in my armoury for over a decade, I am not ashamed to confess. Sugar does break down some serious barriers. Many clients of mine will have seen me rucking up with Borders Chocolate Gingers, Asda 12 jam doughnuts and chocolate covered Hobnobs. In Scotland, a few Tunnock’s Teacakes© break the ice, In Northern Ireland Rankins, Brown Soda Bread has often hit the spot for me. Toaster needed OBVs!

All of this stuff costs pennies, but in my career has won we so many friends.

At the risk of channeling Susie Dent (lexicographer and etymologist) at this point, Did you know that the root of the word Companion, is a group of people who share bread together. ‘Pan’, like ‘pain’ in French, ‘Pan’ in Spanish and ‘Panem’ in Latin. Con = with.

Share bread, food or cake and you cannot fail to make friends. Its hard wired into each and every one of us.

I remember many years ago, working with staff at the William Sutton Trust, which became part of Affinity Sutton, then Clarion. That William Sutton was a smart cookie. Every Friday he furnished all his staff with a loaf of bread. As far back as 2009, the tradition still endured, although it was a Friday cream cake. I am uncertain if Clarion still perpetuate it, do let me know if at Tring, an office is still there or the practice still exists.

The point of all this is that food (& sugar OBVs) builds bridges. I think it does anyway. I have what I expect will be a challenging meeting next Friday and I will be investing in some chocolate covered Hobnobs, to break the ice. Also underlying the fact I am just like you and you know what people, I am here to help.

So, if you see me or anyone else coming at you with sugar, we come in peace with carbs. Its cool, roll with it!


Related Post: Do we deal well with the state some properties are left in and are costs ever recovered?   

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Chaka Khan – Like Sugar.
(c) Tony Smith, Acutance Consulting www.acutanceconsulting.co.uk 07854-655009


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Icing On The Cake

If you do the Twitter thing, follow me at @hotpixUK
or LinkedIn here http://uk.linkedin.com/in/tonysmiththathousingitguy

I have had so many requests for my Lemon Drizzle Cake story, then here it is. If you know me, I generally have told this story, to help people realise they need to change their systems, processes or ways. So here goes.

A young man, recently married, was amazingly impressed with his new wife. She was beautiful, witty, intelligent, understanding, down to earth and a fantastic cook. Her speciality was Lemon Drizzle Cake. It was light, sweet, more-ish and a perfect mix of tart and coconut flavours. One thing was getting to him though. Every time she made it, on retrieving it from the Aga, she cut an inch from the longer sides and threw them away.

One agreeable evening after a few beers and glasses of oaked NZ white wines, he asked her why she did that. After a bit of thought, she said "That cake is a special family recipe. My mother taught me to make it as a schoolgirl and that was a special part of getting the cake to taste the way it does". He responded by saying he could not quite get his head around that. Being the perfect wife, she understood and suggested he ask her mum, when they were there next on Sunday.

After the roast beef, Yorkies and al-dente veggies, his mother-in-law had baked the family Lemon Drizzle Cake. It was perfect, just like his wife's and had its sides missing. He took his opportunity and after the meal, asked her why the sides were cut off. She said she always binned those and it was his wife's granny, who had taught her to do that. The following week it was Mothers Day and as they all were going up to the old folks home, to see Granny, decided to ask her about it then.

The care home was quite luxurious and Granny had a very comfortable room, with a lot of her personal ornaments, pictures and other familiar stuff around her. After the presents were exchanged, he took his chance to bring up the Lemon Drizzle Cake, how well it was made by his young wife and mother-in-law.

"Ah yes!" She said. "That is a most delicious cake and a family recipe I have passed down. It must be made in a set way, otherwise is not as good, as it can be". I understand that, he said, but why on earth do you cut an inch off each end, as soon as it comes out of the Oven?

"Well", she said, turning around to the side table, and picked up an old, round Quality Street tin, "If I don't do that, it doesn't quite fit in here....".

I think you can realise from this, why we must constantly review in our processes, what and why we do things, to always check if they are still needed, appropriate and correct.

Get 'em to print this off and put this helpful picture in their pocket 8 - )

Related Post: Fooled Again - Make a better job of procuring software in future
 

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You can link with me on LinkedIn here - http://uk.linkedin.com/in/tonysmiththathousingitguy It would be great to connect !

Martin TinTin Duffy – Icing On The Cake.
(c) Tony Smith, Acutance Consulting www.acutanceconsulting.co.uk 07854-655009

PS As usual, if there are subjects you might like me to tackle on this blog, please get in touch and let me know!

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