Managing Situations: Soaking a stubborn pot!

In life, much like in teaching, sometimes the best way to handle a situation isn’t by forcefully tackling it head-on but by taking a step back and letting things settle—just like soaking a stubborn pot rather than scrubbing it aggressively. This simple analogy highlights an approach that can save us from unnecessary damage and wasted energy, both in our personal lives and professional settings.

Soaking vs. Scrubbing: A New Perspective on Problem-Solving

Imagine this: you’ve just finished cooking a delicious meal, but you’re left with a pot to wash. The instinctive response is to grab a scourer and scrub away furiously. However, this often leaves you exhausted with food still sticking to the pot, with little progress and a potentially damaged pot. A far more effective strategy is to fill the pot with warm soap water and let it soak, allowing time for the grime to lift on its own.

The same principle applies when managing challenging situations, whether it’s in the classroom, at work, or in personal relationships. Sometimes, stepping back and letting things settle can be more productive than diving in with immediate, forceful solutions. Here’s why:

1. Preserving Energy and Resources: Scrubbing is hard work and time-consuming. In life, relentlessly pushing against resistance can drain your energy and resources. Soaking, however, allows you to conserve your strength, reflecting a strategic pause that gives you time to think and re-approach the situation with a fresh perspective.
   
   

2. Avoiding Damage: Just as scrubbing can scratch and wear out a pot, aggressively tackling problems can cause unintended harm—whether it’s to relationships, morale, or the overall environment. Soaking allows the issue to naturally soften, making it easier to handle without causing damage.
   
   

3. Creating Space for Reflection: Soaking represents taking time to reflect, gather information, and understand the core of an issue before acting. This pause can lead to more thoughtful and effective solutions, reducing the risk of rash decisions driven by frustration.
   
   

The “Soaking” Approach in Teaching Computer Science

As a computer science lecturer, I find that this approach resonates deeply with the art of teaching. Learning isn’t about hammering concepts into students’ minds; it’s about creating an environment where knowledge can be absorbed naturally. Just like a pot needs time in warm water to loosen up the residue, students often need time, patience, and the right conditions to digest new information.

In computer science, it’s easy to be tempted to push students to grasp complex algorithms or programming concepts immediately. But sometimes, the best learning happens outside of lectures—in the quiet moments when students reflect on what they’ve learned, experiment with code, and make connections at their own pace. Instead of constantly piling on pressure, we can create a space that encourages exploration, questioning, and gradual understanding.

I’ve also found this approach invaluable when dealing with challenging behaviour or students who seek confrontation. Instead of reacting immediately, I take a step back—soaking the situation, if you will—by giving both myself and the student time to cool down. This helps diffuse tension and often leads to a more constructive conversation later, avoiding unnecessary escalation and allowing us to refocus on learning.

Applying “Soaking” in Everyday Life

Whether you’re leading a team, managing a household, or navigating personal challenges, embracing a “soak first” mindset can transform your approach to problem-solving. It’s about recognising that sometimes, the most effective way to clear up a mess—or solve a problem—isn’t through force, but through patience, observation, and strategic pauses.

Next time you’re faced with a stubborn challenge, remember the pot analogy: before you start scrubbing away, consider soaking first. You might find that the solution comes much easier—and with far less effort—than you initially expected.

"My Teaching Routine" book takes you on a journey. It's not a linear book or one with a fixed narrative sequence which requires you to start at the beginning. The book takes you through different phases of the classroom and gets you to think about each stage and process."