Have you seen the viral “Japanese Cheesecake Trend?”
The promise: you put some sort of cookies or graham crackers into Greek yogurt, put it in the fridge, wait four hours, and it will taste like the most delicious cheesecake you've ever eaten.
It has been talked about on Good Morning America, all over Instagram, and —apparently— on TikTok (I'm told). Over the past month, it has taken over the internet.
Here's the only problem:
I tried it, twice, with two different types of Greek yogurt and two different types of cookies.
And, it tasted nothing like cheesecake.
I'm not saying these influencers or the hosts of Good Morning America are lying.
But I am saying that we must have very different ideas of what cheesecake is supposed to taste like.
It makes me think of our organizations, our teams, and even our neighborhoods.
One group of leaders might say: we are going to roll out this new [initiative, software, process, goal-setting structure, etc] because it is going to improve things.
But after the change is rolled out, to some, it doesn't feel that things are better at all. They liked the old way. The new way does not taste like cheesecake.
This doesn't mean that these leaders are lying, or that our team members are wrong.
It simply means we had different expectations for what the cheesecake would taste like. We're each bringing our own experiences and perspectives to the table, and those shape how we evaluate the outcome.
As leaders, we can consider this when leading through change, whether big or small, and we can think about the following:
Definitions: what are we defining as cheesecake? Is it supposed to be sweet? Flavored? Creamy? And, what will it look like and taste like when it's done? First, let's make sure we are all using the same definitions, and the same Definition of Done.
Stake in the Ground: what really matters here? Are we optimizing for health? Flavor? Protein? Ease of use? End-user experience? Naming this up front helps keep priorities front and center.
Desired Outcomes: what should this cheesecake look like on the other side? Is it supposed to be slightly sweet? Magically transformed? Basically just a tub of greek yogurt with some soggy crackers inside? Getting clear on this helps everyone know what they're working toward.
Running a Pilot: is there an opportunity to start small, get feedback, and adjust? Can we start with the individual-sized yogurt, instead of going all in on the full 24 ounce tub?
Collecting Feedback: do we have a process in place to collect feedback, ensure all voices are heard, and then implement changes accordingly? Is there a collective comment jar somewhere on the internet where we can weigh in on this sweeping internet trend?
What do you think? Have you tried the viral Japanese cheesecake trend? If so, I'd love to hear your take. Please feel free to hit reply and weigh in
This post was originally shared via Friday Favorites —a free weekly curation of resources, reflections, and inquiries on leadership and life. Join us here, and join the weekly conversation, if you’d like.
