Does the seasoning really make the meal?

If you’ve ever cooked, you know the difference seasoning can make. A dish that’s already good becomes something remarkable when you add just the right touch of basil, cumin, or cinnamon. The right seasoning transforms, elevates, and surprises.

But here’s the catch: seasoning can’t rescue a disaster. A poorly prepared meal doesn’t magically become gourmet just because you dump a jar of spice on top. Seasoning isn’t about replacement. It’s about enhancement.

And that truth doesn’t just belong in the kitchen — it belongs in the workplace.

Leadership Lessons from the Kitchen

Too often, leaders look for the magic fix. A single tool, tactic, or training session that will solve everything. The reality? If your leadership foundation is shaky, a quick tip won’t fix it. No “seasoning” can turn ineffective leadership into excellence overnight.

But if you are already leading well — if you’re thoughtful, committed, and striving to grow — then the right small change can make a significant difference. That’s where seasoning becomes powerful.

Choose One Ingredient at a Time

Think about your leadership like a recipe. You don’t throw in every spice in the cabinet and hope for the best. You choose carefully. You add one at a time.

Growth works the same way. Instead of overwhelming yourself with a long list of skills to improve, pick one. Maybe it’s listening with more intention. Maybe it’s giving more timely feedback. Maybe it’s making recognition a regular habit.

Focus there. Sprinkle that one change into your daily leadership. Then, when it becomes natural, choose another. Over time, those small enhancements stack up, creating real transformation.

Small Changes Create Big Shifts

The path from good to great isn’t usually paved with dramatic overhauls. It’s built on steady, deliberate improvements. One seasoning at a time. One skill at a time. One intentional act at a time.

The best leaders don’t reinvent themselves constantly. They refine themselves continually.

If you are a good leader, small changes can make a big difference. Just like the right amount of seasoning can make the meal, the right small shift in your leadership can elevate everything you do.

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Kevin Eikenberry is a recognized world expert on leadership development and learning and is the Chief Potential Officer of The Kevin Eikenberry Group. He has spent over 30 years helping organizations across North America, and leaders from around the world, on leadership, learning, teams and teamwork, communication and more.

Twice he has been named by Inc.com as one of the Top 100 Leadership and Management Experts in the World and 100 Great Leadership Speakers for Your Next Conference. The American Management Association named him a “Leaders to Watch” and he has been twice named as one of the World's Top 30 Leadership Professionals by Global Gurus. Top Sales World has named him a Top Sales & Marketing Influencer several times, and his blog has been named on many “best of” lists. LeadersHum has named him one of the 200 Biggest Voices in Leadership in 2023.

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