I had an eye-opening conversation on leadership with my oldest son the other day about baking vs cooking. He was talking about cooking for his family. I asked him how often he cooked, and he said he cooked most of the dinners—and really enjoyed it.
I was a little surprised and said, “I didn’t know you liked cooking.”
Then he dropped the line: “I do. I hate baking, but I like cooking.”
My heart sunk.
Growing up, all he ever knew was baking. That was my thing. For family day breakfasts, or Christmastime cookies, or hot fresh bread, it was always me baking with the kids. I thought to myself, You hate baking? Did that mean he had secretly hated all that time spent baking together?
But then he said: “I loved the time we spent baking together as a family and with you…”
[Whew.]
“… but baking itself isn’t my thing. Following a recipe, getting every measurement just right, cooking just the right amount of time, everything spelled out… I just don’t like it.
“But cooking I love. I love experimenting and improvising, trying new things and seeing what comes out. Playing with spices and ingredients. Starting off with an idea and seeing what happens. Tasting and testing. Starting off not knowing exactly what you’re going to end up with. That’s fun.”
Hmmmm….
Baking vs cooking means order vs. freestyle
Baking vs cooking means steps vs. inspiration
Baking vs cooking means implementing vs. improvisation
I had never thought of it that way, much less as a metaphor for how one could go through life, much less lead. (There are other metaphors, too.)
My tendency and, if honest, orientation in terms of personality, is toward being a baker. While my thinking and research and reading is very “cooking” (eclectic and searching in nature), the result is for me to then take what I have found through cooking and bake. And to put it in recipes so that others can bake. I cook on my way there, but once I get there, I’m a baker through and through.
