Want to know what a cog in the machine can do?
It can cause as much damage as it can get work done. That commands some respect.
(Credit: Derek Rinaldo)
The difference is how you treat it.
Missing link
But we compare poor treatment at work to being a cog in a machine.
The people who deride the phrase say it dehumanizes workers.
They don’t understand reliability.
Cynics think running a machine is about setting it and forgetting it. Ignoring machine parts when they work correctly and change them out when they don’t.
But working like that takes on a ton of risk.
Even if machine parts with similar functions are interchangeable, it still goes down without care. Going down means the machine isn’t making anything of value while you work to change out the part.
Time spent managing that machine isn’t value added.
Turn the shaft
But not having to change out a cog? That takes care and monitoring.
You need to keep it greased. You need to keep the chain tension right. You need to make sure the motor drives it at the right speed.
And you need to keep it aligned with the other parts of the machine so it does the work it’s supposed to.
Fun fact: the machine tells you if all the parts aren’t running right. It could run better with better attention.
People are the same way. If you listen to them.
Stop talking down about my machines.
Start talking better about yourself.
And start listening to what people and the machines they work in tell you the problems are.
There’s wisdom in letting things work for you and taking care of them so they keep working. Subscribe today to get more delivered directly to your inbox.
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