My quote for the week’s Thought of the Week is:
“If you have a hard task to complete, ask someone lazy to do it – they are sure to find an easy way!”
I spotted this quote in a magazine article about delegating tasks at work last week and I thought it was funny. On face value, it is still funny, but then I got to thinking about it.
Is it strictly true?
At first I kind of thought, yeah that makes sense. But after thinking about it for a while, I realised actually it isn’t true at all.
If you ask someone lazy to do a hard task, there’s a fair chance one of two things will happen (and this is assuming they have no way of just saying no):
- It will take them way longer to get started than someone who isn’t lazy and just gets on with things.
- It will get done quicker, but corners will be cut and it won’t be done properly. This may not be evident at first, but at some point it will break down.
So, the person they are asking to complete the task in the quote isn’t in fact lazy. They are innovative and find new, more streamlined and ultimately better ways of doing something.
Not only are they not lazy, they are creative and forward thinking. They are the people you would want on your project, the ones who will bring new ideas and get the jobs done in half the time.
Is it perhaps more true that the person assigning the task is in fact the lazy one?
They have made no effort to do anything except pass the task off onto someone else – and even in doing that, they have not thought about the right person for the task, they have chosen someone who they believe to be lazy, which surely wouldn’t be a quality you wanted in someone completing your work load for you.
I know which of the two people in this scenario I would want working for me.
What do you think? Let me know in the comments 🙂
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I agree Deb – on face value this quote seems fun and accurate but it isn’t. I would want the innovator to work for me too! 🌸
Me too, imagine how fab it would be getting all your processes streamlined!
Very though provoking post, I think I would always rather do something myself, as I know it will get done…how I like. haha
Lol, I’m the same – it’s easier than having to re-do it all!
Haha! That’s a great one. Definitely don’t ask someone lazy to complete a hard task, it wont get done and if it is, it won’t be done properly! #candidcuddles
Thanks 🙂 Yeah exactly, it just means you waste even more time putting it right!
I’ve never thought about this quote like that!! You’re so right! It’s very clever to find a new, easy & quicker way of doing something, that’s what keeps the world turning! 😊
It is and it’s what good leaders tend to do too 🙂
Good point. You want the one doing the task that’s going to find the easiest way to do it. Having to deal with the lazy most of the time, the truly lazy spend all their energy making excuses as to why they can’t do something. (If only they’d do it and not whine about it, it would take half the effort they put in to avoiding it.)
I hate when people make excuses not to do something and I agree – the longer they whine about it, the more they could have had done!
This is a brilliant quote – really thought provoking! xx #candidcuddles
Thank you, I’m glad you liked it 🙂 x
great point! I love seeing something written and interpolating it in our own way. I agree I don’t want a lazy person on my team #candidcuddles
Thank you 🙂 Me too, it’s funny how we all get different meanings from the same thing!
Ha! What a funny way to look at it! Coming up with a faster & more innovative way to do it seems like a great idea. I have always agreed with the quote that says – if you want something done, ask a busy person. They seem to be able to do more. Thanks so much for sharing with #candidcuddles xx
That’s a great quote Becky and it definitely rings true. Somehow when you’re busy you get things done, but when you’re not so busy you tend to procrastinate more (or at least that’s how it works for me). Thanks for hosting 🙂 x