Management Tactic #19: Always Accept the Cake

Have you ever been at a birthday party at work and one person makes a fuss about not eating the cake?

I’ve seen this several times in my illustrious career. Someone goes out of their way to make or buy a cake for a birthday, everyone’s really happy about it, and yet one person “isn’t in the mood for sweets” or “only eats healthy foods” or “doesn’t have time.”

Here’s a tip: If someone offers you cake, always accept the cake.

You can ask for a small piece, or even just a sample, but accept the cake.

What you think you’re doing by rejecting the cake is making a healthy choice or setting a healthy example for everyone else. But what you’re really doing through your holier-than-thou attitude is rejecting not only the person who made the cake, but also the birthday boy or girl, as well as everyone else who chose to accept the cake and don’t want to feel bad about that choice. Because it’s cake.

A little cake now and then doesn’t hurt anyone. In fact, if everyone accepts the cake, it has the power of unifying everyone in the office.

0 thoughts on “Management Tactic #19: Always Accept the Cake”

  1. I found your site on technorati and read a few of your other posts. Keep up the good work. I just added your RSS feed to my Google News Reader. Looking forward to reading more from you down the road!

    Reply
  2. Really? What is the big deal about not eating cake? I personally think taking a “taste” or an “eensy sliver” is the same as not taking cake in terms of goddie-two-shoes-ness. If you don’t want cake, don’t eat it. I personally am not a fan of cake. No judgments if it’s your thing. It’s just not mine. But I will go to the party, I will sing happy birthday, I will be excited for the birthday boy or girl.

    People need to be less sensitive about other people’s choices.

    Reply

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