Simone Douani_Kapirum Consulting

I came across the case of General Mills, which introduced a line of cake mixes under the Betty Crocker brand in the 50s'. These mixes promise convenience by including all dry ingredients, powdered milk, and eggs. However, the product didn't sell well despite its benefits, and General Mills brought in psychologists to understand why. The unexpected answer was guilt: housewives felt that using the mix deceived their families by saving time and effort, making it seem like they had baked for hours. To address this, General Mills revised the product, requiring users to add a real egg and water, removing the powdered egg. This change made the process slightly less convenient but alleviated guilt and gave a sense of .

After reading the story, I was struck by the question: What 'egg', in terms of contribution, can we add to a learning journey? Based on my experience, should encourage participants to add their "egg" of personal touch. It could take various forms: shared experiences, individual reflections, or collaborative feedback. What's remarkable is that this principle applies to those receiving coaching and those taking on the coach role. Coaches, too, add their unique flavours just as coachees infuse their 'eggs' into the learning journey. They bring expertise, guidance, and mentorship but also share their experiences and learn from the rich tapestry woven by their coachees.
I employ creativity and performing tools and techniques to convey messages effectively and facilitate workshops and . I use these metaphorical "eggs" to empower the participants to contribute according to their needs and experiences. This interactive dynamic cultivates a co-creation process, ultimately boosting their engagement.

Participants can enrich every and workshop program, like baking, by adding unique ingredients. Personal stories and reflections add depth to the learning experience, much like the real egg transformed the cake mix. Encouraging participants to bring their experiences to the table fosters a sense of ownership and connection to the process, much like the homemakers who felt they were contributing to the cake's creation.

The analogy of the "egg" underscores the importance of acknowledging individual contributions and avoiding reducing people to mere numbers or passive recipients of information. Just as the cake mix ceased to be a convenience and became a fulfilling endeavour, the ultimate end of coaching should be empowering participants to take credit for their growth journey.

Coaching is a testament to the value of personal contribution in a world full of standardised approaches. Just as a cake becomes more than the sum of its ingredients, coaching transforms into a meaningful and enriching experience when each participant adds their own "egg."

What's your secret ingredient regarding your personal touch and individual involvement?

Simone Douani_Kapirum Consulting Executive and Corporate Coach, Trainer and Facilitator. Founder & CEO of Kapirum Consulting.

How far can we stretch the canvas of our capabilities without tearing the fabric of our identity?

The World Economic Forum anticipates that half of employees will require by 2025 due to technology changes. Most essential job skills will transform within five years, with a third becoming technology-focused. A 2016 report from the same forum projected that 65% of today's schoolchildren will work in new job types. Disruptive tech like is driving reskilling demand.
Efforts are underway to aid learning, like reskilling or upskilling. But how effective will they be? Can they reach all? This is a big question about understanding .
Can people adapt as tech shifts swiftly? Amid technological changes, we must ponder our changes—skills, values, and who we are. It's not just job skills but inner transformation.
Humanity has adapted before, but technology accelerates. Can we embrace change and match our values with it?
Adapting is complex, changing education, goals, and more. It makes us ponder our core identity. Can we change at our core, or are we static?

As a coach, I'm intrigued by upcoming workforce reskilling. In a world where AI's rise is inevitable, embracing reskilling is crucial. This leads to a question: How resilient is the workforce's adaptability in an ever-changing landscape?
As blends potential and uncertainty, learning tests our natural adaptability.
How much can we grow without losing ourselves?

I bumped into Jon Sharples, IP & Art Lawyer, at the Cellar Door, one of the most famous of London's cult cabaret bars. We met right after I landed in London in 2009. It's incredible how something as simple as a meeting can transform into a deep, lasting friendship. As we got to know each other better, I asked Jon if he could summarise his diverse work experiences with a quote.

Jon, being his insightful self, didn't just offer work-related insights; his reply held a depth of understanding that extended well beyond the boundaries of the job sphere.

His exact words were:

"I've found that whether you're resolving a dispute or striking a deal, it pays to focus as much on what you can bring to the other side as on what you can gain for yourself."

I agree with Jon's insight. Through my journey, I've realised that in negotiations—whether navigating a sticky situation or closing a business deal—a winning strategy revolves around having a double-sided perspective. It's not just about looking out for yourself; it's equally vital to understand what advantages you can offer the other party.

This well-balanced approach establishes a robust groundwork for fostering and rapport and is a bridge builder between divergent perspectives. A harmonious atmosphere is crafted by genuinely contemplating what can be offered to the opposing side—one dedicated to exploring mutually gratifying resolutions. This dynamic not only encourages collaboration but also has the potential to turn potential adversaries into collaborative , all working toward shared .

But there's more to it. Jon's outlook isn't just about transactions; it's about . He's all about the give and take, the win-win. He believes that when you're ready to put in the effort for both sides to succeed, it goes beyond the short-term win. This attitude leads to forging relationships and partnerships that stand the test of time.

So, what's the bottom line? Well, the power of reciprocity lies at the heart of effective negotiations. In addressing not only 'What's in it for me?' and 'What's in it for us?', negotiations evolve from mere debating to a higher level of mutual understanding, respect, and constructive dialogue.

This holistic perspective leads to favourable and sustainable long-term growth and collaboration outcomes.

After spending five weeks in Italy, mixing vacation and , I've started thinking about what working remotely means. Is it just about moving your work to a different place, or is there more to it than just working on a different desk?
This thought arose because I wanted to share a story I could only discover by breaking away from my usual routine and surroundings.

The lady beside me is Maria Grammatico, who owns one of Italy's most famous pastry shops. I met Maria on a scorching day typical of Sicily when, by chance, we ventured into her splendid patisserie.

Little did I know then that Maria was the shop owner, sitting by the cash register. We got talking somehow. And once she started talking, I was hooked. Her story blew my mind.

She shared, " I opened the shop on June 1, 1964, and didn't even have enough money to buy almonds. I only had three kilos of almonds to start with! So, I made some sweets and just opened the shop".

Maria Grammatico grew up as one of six kids in a poor family in Erice. She remembers the challenging 1940s after World War II, going to bed hungry and seeing her siblings go without food. Eventually, because her mother couldn't afford to feed her, Maria was placed in an orphanage in Erice at 11. She lived a life of hard work and loneliness there. But the silver lining was that she learned the art of making marzipan, thanks to the Sicilian nuns who were also trying to make a living by crafting almond-based treats.
Maria found joy in watching these nuns create 'pasticcini', using makeshift stones as weights and baking with a keen eye for timings.
When she left the orphanage, Maria had no belongings, hardly any schooling, and only the skills she learned while making treats for others' joy.

In 2023, Maria was honoured as a Knight of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic, a preeminent Italian order of merit.

So, there are two take-home home stories here.

The first is about Maria, who took me on a journey that was more than just a W***y Wonka and the Chocolate Factory adventure. Her story is one of , and survival, leading her to own the best little sweets shop in all of Erice. This is a milestone, considering that women were expected to get married or face difficulties back then. But Maria took a different path. She left the nunnery and started her pastry shop, one of Italy's most famous. Her story will always be a reminder of , , and the Power of female strength.

The second insight lies in addressing the initial query.

Meeting Maria was possible because working remotely goes beyond merely changing your physical location or desk. It offers the opportunity to experience new cultures, lifestyles, and perspectives, which can influence your work habits and creativity. This experience underscores that specific life lessons, stories, and perspectives remain inaccessible within the confines of a conventional office setting.