Comments on: How Hammers Become Screw Drivers

By: vskumar

vskumar — Sat, 16 Mar 2013 11:41:47 +0000

Learnt the difference & wish to be a screw driver in such occassions. Thanks don.

By: marco

marco — Sun, 24 Feb 2013 17:14:34 +0000

Come on…
So this looks like blaming everyone from the little girl, to parents and maybe the restaurant owner or the other guests in there….!!!

Sorry, but found fun to respond.

By: John M. Greco

John M. Greco — Sun, 24 Feb 2013 16:38:36 +0000

I like the story, and the hammer metaphor always resonates. But I have some heartburn with the application here.

I don’t think it desirable that hammers become screwdrivers. Different tools for different purposes.

So, while I think it is very useful to identify our default responses, I think there’s way more widespread application and benefit in knowing when our default responses are applicable and relevant to the situation at hand (nail = hammer) and when they aren’t (screw = hmmmmm) and therefore need to find others who can help us respond differently (screwdriver!) …

That said, there are leaders who can expand their repertoire and can be quite effectively agile. I’m afraid those are the exceptions and not the standard.

I see more lift in connecting the self awareness to seeking collaborators that can provide the more effective responses.

By: mary Costandi

mary Costandi — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 07:00:44 +0000

If the person who gave little Mary the milk thought before giving her the glass of milk none of this would happen. the adult here is the boss and Mary is the unexperienced employee, so planning ahead will end in success …putting Mary in the high-chair first make sure the cup is spill proof, tell her to be careful and keep an eye on her until she knows how to handle a cup she can be free to use a regular chair and a normal glass and so on , if everyone think ahead of every possibility to any action the result will be much better

By: Alf Goodall

Alf Goodall — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 21:19:30 +0000

Ever watch New Yankee Workshop with Norm Abram? have you noticed he can construct the same thing a dozen different ways with diffrent tools and techniques? That’s what a craftsperson and master artisan is capable of.

Leadership shouldn’t be any different but we certainly do get locked into using the same approaches over and over again.

“A hammer sees every problem as a nail …” Those words resonated. I won’t soon forget them.

By: Peter D.

Peter D. — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 13:24:36 +0000

Just a thought. Some are focusing on the spilled milk scenario. It draws attention to other situations, accidents, mistakes, failure and more.

By: italianchandeliers

italianchandeliers — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 09:34:20 +0000

Just love these words
” you can’t do what you can’t imagine ” ♥

By: Jjudith Ponce

Jjudith Ponce — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 08:05:29 +0000

This is so interesting!! I was just thinking we want to think we are leaders and we are in control of situations…. I was just wondering if little Mary has “trained” us good enough to pick up her mess all the time….. lol… just thinking

By: Tina Del Buono, PMAC

Tina Del Buono, PMAC — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 01:19:42 +0000

Hi Dan, this was a great post I love it! Have a great evening

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 17:04:36 +0000

You know what I love about this blog? I love that it takes me a minute to read but months to implement! (And frankly sometimes I don’t every get it right-lol).