We use four spoons in our house. The decorative sugar spoon is for coffee creamer.
Large spoons provide the right ratio for soup and cereal. Regular spoons are for breakfast yogurt.
The fourth spoon is a “fancy eating spoon” with a long handle. It’s for ice cream.
My wife uses the wrong spoons. She uses a regular spoon for soup and cereal. Worse yet, she uses the fancy eating spoon for yogurt!
I tried to explain spoon protocol to my wife. But it’s hopeless.
Spoon Wars
Don’t go to war over trivialities.
Choices inspire ownership.
Don’t expect people to use a fancy eating spoon when they prefer a teaspoon. Preferences aren’t principles.
Application
#1. Delegation: Define the outcome. Let people choose the tool. Ask, “How do you want to approach this?”
#2. Ownership: People resist being told how to do their jobs. Control the what. Flex on the how. Notice if people disengage when you give instructions. Ask, “Do you have any questions?”
#3. Friction: Many conflicts are about methods, not goals. When conversations heat up, ask, “Are we arguing about goals or methods?”
Coaching Tip: Use the spoon metaphor to explore where people would like more freedom.
Offer guardrails, not scripts. Make room for responsible variation.
“Be flexibly stubborn. We are stubborn on vision. We are flexible on details.” — Jeff Bezos
How do you know when to fight and when to let to?
The 5 Seductions of Triviality
