Routines

Households in my parents’ generation were very regimented. “Tea” (the evening meal) was served at six, sharp, always.

Monday would be leftovers from the Sunday roast. Tuesdays was meatloaf. Wednesdays was lamb stew (with the cheapest cuts), etc..

We tend toward routine because it’s easier. There is a lot to do and you have to economise, so you don’t want to be rethinking everything all the time. My mam didn’t have time to sit around, wondering: “Now, what should we have for tea?”

We do this in organisations as well, but the problem is, routine can make teams stale. People get defined by their role in the routine, and the chance to stretch, and to use and develop the full range of their talents, can be missed.

For that reason I’m interested in the potential benefits of the “managed shake-up”.

Any thoughts or examples?