Managing is a skill that need not be confined only to a particular designation or role as we all manage our lives from dawn to dusk. Every choice we make defines how we manage our life, isn’t it?
Well, I recently managed to add a lot of happiness to my life by watching the cooking reality show Cooku with Comali, and amidst the heart-bursting laughter and tears, what fascinated me was the values that it imparts.
If one is able to pass through the layer of laughter, this show is a classic example of how to manage your life. Anything within its limits is beautiful and bountiful, and the limitations as rules, tasks, and twists in the show make it interesting and engrossing, episode after episode.
Note: 1. You can relate to this even if you have not watched the series yet, but you can best enjoy it if you have binge-watched it like me.
2. The characteristics of the comalis can well be attributed to our friends, team members, or even family members wherever teamwork is involved.
1. Skills Management — identify what is the strength of your comali & plan your dish according to it, like you shouldn’t ask Shivangi to clean prawn or Manimegalai to adjust salt. Everyone has some strength, it is up to you to bring the best of each one!
2. People Management — understand the nature of your comali & give them freedom when you know they are responsible like Pugazh and keep on eye on what they do if you know they are a little playful or not very serious about their part like Thangadurai (well, did your heart boil too when he mixed the flour and spoiled Ashwin’s efforts?). If you apply the same approach to everyone, you will miss the best of their skills.
3. Time Management — plan, organize and multitask in the time available, start work that needs more time to cook or boil and do the second step while it is getting ready, this is a basic cooking requisite anyway. Life too has a limited time, remember?
4. Anger Management — maturity is understanding when to get angry and whom to get angry at, if you have a comali like Sunitha, you will make them repel with your anger, instead you need to be patient to get work done from them. Connect with your team member genuinely rather than just bossing around.
5. Resource Management — asking the right questions at the right time to the chefs, getting help from other teams for tasting, etc. can be of great help. Everyone knows something, it’s all about how you bring their expertise at the right time.
6. Adversity Management — when you can’t eat onions, reduce the size of aloo paratha and avoid wastage to get more numbers in the advantage (only those who watch the show will understand this point). Sometimes, less is more.
7. Opportunity Management — use every little chance to express your talent like Pugazh without overdoing it and adding value to what you are currently doing. Your confidence in your skill will enhance your performance.
8. Advantage Management — when you have the upper hand, be humble and mindful of how you use the advantage, especially when you are given a choice to change any rule for the opposite team, but be smart enough to make it work in your favour. Remember that others will get an opportunity too but do not fear to play your game. Compete conscientiously.
9. Criticism Management — sometimes you might be criticized for the team’s mistake like the cooks who have excellent culinary skills but miss out because of lack of co-ordination from the comali. It’s ok, have the patience to not take it personally and move on to the next task (remember how Ashwin did only 2 paneer dishes with Sunitha, it had nothing to with his skills yet he is responsible for the outcome. However, he moved on to the next level in spite of it because what he did was innovative and creative). How well you do matters more than how much you do!
10. Distraction Management — with so much happening around, it is challenging to have focus but that’s the deal of the game. Have fun, laugh along, join the party but always have an eye on your job. Balance fun and focus!
In these times when Work from Home has become the norm, managing things is almost like the blindfolded task and you just have to trust your comali, play to their strengths, encourage them and give clear instructions to get the job done perfectly.
Participating in a show like this does not just require cooking skills, but a holistic set of personal values and the right attitude to navigate through the challenges and win. The winning is not the title per se, but how much the comalis have enjoyed working with you, and how much the judges have revered your cooking.
Coming to think of it, the same applies to work too. Sometimes, you might be in a team with a lot of comalis in there, and if only you know how to tap their strength and play along with them, who knows you might be producing the best version of your work in spite of all the challenges!
PS: Dedicating this to the chefs, cooks, comalis, and the entire team of the Cooku with Comali show for the entertainment, fun, and the values!
