Value Addition !

In a big joint family, running on traditional family business, only the elderly mother – Maa, and the maid – Bai, knew how to Cook. Four sons brought four Bahus, daughters-in-law into the family. They were untrained for Kitchen and so did know nothing about Cooking. Having got married, somewhere they learned that “a quick access to a Man’s heart, is through his mouth”. So, all four wanted their way to their Man’s heart.

Every day during dinner, that’s when the family gathers for a whole meal, while the food gets prepared by Maa and the Bai, and being laid on the dining table, each one of the Bahus would add salt – to what they consider as their important contribution to the cooking. While everyone will agree, salt is the most important ingredient, more of it destroys taste, besides giving to bad health. While their intentions might be well-placed, their methods definitely aren’t well-calibrated. But, in their anxieties to impress and “value add“, the bahus continued this for many days. We only know that three of the Bahus first-names, in the order one, two and four, start with F, A, T and the surname of the third is R. You might find out how relevant are these, at the end.

Father of the house initially inquired the Mother. On hearing it was the Daughters-in-law, numbed-off, to avoid any untoward discussions at the dining table. When the sons inquired their respective wives, each one blamed the other three sisters. Sons too, for peace to prevail, didn’t find the courage to comment on any sister-in-law. Curiously, none questioned, and the family became used to having salty food slowly. People close to the family soon saw changing behaviour amongst the members of the family. Pent up emotions soon flared up in different forms and soon peace in the family disappeared.

I observe this story applies to our day-to-day work life too. In more and more scenarios, when each one tries to get a grip of every event happening around. Slowly encroaching into one another’s space, in the quest for stature. Isn’t this going a bit too much.

In the name of value-addition I observe that a lot of undesired salt is being added into the cooking, read – processes, that nevertheless strains the system and leaves the relationships awry. Be it in the family or in the work place, need to think twice, whether we do things to facilitate or a cause to disruption. Are we really contributing by adding salt or challenging the very rhythm of the ongoing process. Setting aside the Maa‘s and Bai’s in the daily businesses, many a Bahus, especially from the auxiliary functions, are doing this to substantiate such roles or merely to impress their superiors.

Instead of tolerating such superfluous salts, we need to find ways to remove them from the system asap. A straight and open mind will bring in more simple and staple foods or processes that each one can optimize on and thus become a true enabler and coexist Healthily. Let’s think twice – before considering adding any salt, i.e., value-addition.