Have you ever made pasta at home?
A few weeks ago, my grandson and I rolled out homemade tagliatelle together.
“Is this thin enough?”
“Not quite. We’ll know it’s thin enough when we can read through it.”
He looked at me with curiosity and kept rolling.
A few minutes later, we gently lifted the dough and held up a package behind it. He smiled.
“I can see the letters!”
I learned that trick during one of my 100 lifetime experiences — visiting Tuscany with Jean. An Italian grandmother taught us to measure and mix flour, salt, and eggs into a perfect dough. While it rested, we sipped glasses of Chianti and Brunello di Montalcino. Later, we rolled the dough thin, cut strips, and enjoyed it with a simple sauce.
That experience inspired a similar activity we shared with other entrepreneurial couples during our fall Couples Retreat.
Pasta requires the kind of patience and presence we need as partners and as leaders.
Here are three lessons I’ve learned that apply to both leadership and pasta making:
1. Focus on the fundamentals.
In pasta, this means careful measurement of excellent ingredients. 100 grams of finely ground 00 flour. A pinch of sea salt. A fresh egg.
In leadership, the fundamentals include your vision and self-awareness. What are you creating? What “ingredients” do you bring to the team and where do you lean on others’ strengths and skills?
2. Embrace the process.
Pasta-making demands patience and focus. Rushing leads to chewy or uneven results.
Leadership is no different. Building trust and strong teams takes time, attention, and consistent investment. Stay present and engaged to recognize when things are coming together well and when extra development is needed.
3. Celebrate the results.
There’s no single “right way” to make pasta — only what works for the meal and moment. You can cut narrow ribbons of spaghetti, wider strips of tagliatelle, or thick, hearty pappardelle. Each variation has its own character and charm. And no matter the shape, we get to savor the results, often in good company over dinner.
As leaders, we can shape a company culture that celebrates all the variations of success:
- A big win.
- A failed effort that yields valuable insights.
- Creative approaches that help us streamline or innovate.
- Moments when staff demonstrate the company’s values.
- Simple milestones that create opportunities to connect.
Leadership, like pasta-making, invites us to focus on the essentials, be present, and celebrate the outcomes — no matter the shape or size they take.
And if you’d like my tagliatelle recipe, send us a note!