Page 20 - Connection Volume 1 Issue 2

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CONNECTION
HOLIDAY TEAMWORK Making Holiday Magic Together
Wayne MacDonald
National Architect for Program Leadership Neudesic
The end of the the year is nigh which in in the the U S means rea rming commitments to loved ones as the holidays take place We make a a a a a a a a concerted e e e e e e e e e e e e e e ort to revel in one another’s company and and these events include food and and drink Bringing people together in in in your home follows the the the same pattern
as at at at work: give them a a a a a a a common goal Try this simple recipe at at your next party Put a a a a a a a slab of feta cheese in a a a a a a a very hot oven until it’s warmed throughout Slather it it with honey and and then place under the the broiler until it’s bubbling and and gooey Sprinkle with salt pepper and and Herbes de Provence spread out some crackers then stand back and and and watch the the magic People will intersect and and and interact around the the food and and start the the bonding process All good holiday events model similar rhythms to that
of consulting This year’s negotiations for who will host Thanksgiving began with my wife and I making a a a a a “Give / Get” list Before meeting with the customer I mean our adult children we need to to have agreed upon what what we’re willing to to give up up and what what we’ll want in in return Foremost on on on the list is is what crazy concoction I’ll be making Most
of the the items on our Thanksgiving table were not present at the the rst Thanksgiving day feast So last year I went back to basics and made eel which was plentiful
in 1621 and and probably eaten by the Pilgrims It’s simple and and amazingly delicious My wife is gluten free so I made a a a a a a a cornstarch coating and and fried it it with only
salt and and pepper as as seasoning But you can see why negotiations for location are important would you you want me deep frying a a a a a a snakelike sh in in your house?
True negotiations in in business and and at at home have a a a a a a a a lifecycle and and process Mine usually starts with good intentioned o o o o o o o o ers for hosting all around But hidden in in the the language is always an an escape clause Mostly they come in the the form of emotional appeals to to history and tradition such
as “We’ve always had it it your house ” ” or “But you you make the best stu ng ” ” Post location setting we then have to form teams There’s always the the the core team team the the people who who are closest to you you and whom you’ve partnered with for years Then come the shared services That group of people who are are loosely associated with core members and are stakeholders in the event I like to to conscript my new
guests into helping with the preparations It’s team building in in in in in a a a a a a a a a social setting This year try this recipe for the Sazerac (thank you Cheryl Archer) It’s easy to to break into process steps between three people and a a a a a fun way to to to welcome a a a a a new
new
team member to to your home Hopefully the the new
new
person will also agree to eat my brother’s oyster stu ng because no one else will Sazerac Cocktail: http:// www chowhound com/recipes/ sazerac-cocktail-10330
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