From Vision to Reality
Mise en place isn’t just about preparation- it’s a disciplined way of thinking that starts with a clear vision of the desired outcome. This approach involves seeing the end state in vivid detail, then working backward to organise the resources and path to align current actions with that vision. It’s about thinking from the future and ordering the present accordingly, transforming the present state into one that moves toward greater order and a more cohesive, desired future.
A Brief History of Mise en Place
Mise en place is a French term meaning “putting in place.” It originated in French kitchens, where precision and organisation were crucial for delivering consistently high-quality dishes. Chefs would prepare all ingredients and tools beforehand, ensuring everything was within reach and ready for use. This practice minimised errors, reduced stress, and allowed chefs to focus on the creative aspects of cooking, ultimately ensuring the successful execution of complex meals.
Thinking from the Future
At the heart of mise en place is the ability to think ahead and envision the final product, whether it’s a completed dish, a successful project, or a well-executed strategy. This future-oriented thinking allows you to break down the journey into manageable steps. By knowing where you’re going, you can effectively map out how to get there, ensuring that each element is prepared and placed with purpose. This approach has much in common with prototyping, innovation processes, and the deep design of business strategies.
Ordering the Present from the Future
This mindset brings forethought and clarity to the present moment, using the vision of the future state to guide current actions. It develops standards and protocols, ensuring that every task, tool, and resource is perfectly aligned with the ultimate goal. Instead of reacting to challenges as they arise, mise en place thinking enables proactive planning, creating a structured environment where everything has its place.
Turning Chaos into Order: The Value of First Principles Thinking
Chaos is the natural state when plans are missing or unclear, and actions are uncoordinated. Mise en place thinking, however, brings order to this chaos by establishing frameworks that support success. This approach applies not only to the physical aspects of work but also to how we think about our thinking.
Incorporating a first principles approach into mise en place thinking further enhances its effectiveness. First principles thinking, popularised by thinkers like Aristotle and more recently by Elon Musk, involves breaking down complex problems into their most basic elements and building up from there. This method ensures that each step in your process is logically sound and rooted in fundamental truths, reducing the likelihood of error or confusion.
When combined with mise en place, first principles thinking helps create a structured environment where every action is purposeful and aligned with the end goal. By preparing everything in advance, anticipating needs, and focusing on these foundational elements, you establish a clear, logical order from which great work can emerge.
This approach not only creates a sense of control and precision but also encourages innovation by challenging assumptions and exploring the most efficient ways to achieve your objectives. The transformation of chaos into order, underpinned by first principles thinking, is where truly exceptional work begins, ensuring that every task, tool, and resource is optimised for success.
The Neuroscience and Psychology of Mise en Place
The concept of mise en place aligns with key insights from neuroscience on entropy and the brain’s predictive coding. The brain is constantly striving to minimise uncertainty, essentially reducing entropy, by predicting future states and organising sensory inputs accordingly. Mise en place mirrors this neurological process by reducing uncertainty in the environment, aligning actions with the brain’s natural tendency to anticipate and prepare for what’s coming next. This reduces cognitive load, allowing your brain to focus on executing tasks with greater precision and less stress.
Capacity as a (Growth) Habit, Not a Fixed Reality
Psychological insights reveal that capacity is not a fixed reality but a habit shaped by our expectations and perceptions. One’s stance towards a given environment places psychological constraints or expectations on what one feels able to do within that environment. These projective assessments and predispositions directly impact how we prepare to act and then act. This means we adjust our actions in direct relation to our perceived outcome. If you expect greatness, you will act with the behaviours, focus, and energy that align with achieving greatness.
This connection between expectation and action underscores the importance of aligning your perception of the outcome with your efforts. By adopting a mise en place mindset, you are essentially setting up an environment that maximises your sense of capability and readiness, reinforcing positive assessments of what you can achieve. This stance not only shapes how you prepare but also enhances your confidence in executing tasks effectively.
Psychologists Deena Weisberg, et al’s research also highlights how structured preparation can greatly enhance participation and creativity by reducing cognitive load and freeing mental resources for innovation. This insight aligns perfectly with mise en place thinking, where thorough preparation lays the groundwork for creative excellence and high performance.
By ordering the present from the future, mise en place supports the brain’s inherent drive to impose order on potential chaos, making the process of achieving great work both neurologically sound and psychologically empowering. Developing a clear vision and defining a path and process for fulfilment is essential work for leaders.
Three Actionable Insights for Thinking from the Future to Order the Present
- Visualise the End State Clearly: Before starting any task, take time to clearly visualise the final outcome. Use this vision to guide your preparation, ensuring every step you take is aligned with achieving that end state.
- Break Down the Process: Identify the key steps required to reach your goal. Organise your tools, resources, and time according to these steps, ensuring everything is in place before you begin.
- Anticipate and Plan for Challenges: Consider potential obstacles and prepare contingencies in advance. By thinking ahead, you reduce the likelihood of disruptions and maintain control over the process.
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You can harness the power of mise en place thinking to design your leadership, company or project to consistently produce great work, turning vision into reality with precision and order.