I know what you’re thinking: biscuits? Is this another excuse for Laura to bring snacks into the conversation? Not this time 😝
Andrea Stella, McLaren’s Team Principal, uses biscuits as a metaphor – but not the kind you’d find in the staff room.
He has a saying: “Don’t take the poison biscuit.”
It’s his way of describing those tempting ideas or quick fixes that look harmless on the surface but come with hidden costs that leave you questioning everything…
When you’re on top – whether it’s in F1 or in your school – people will try to stir up trouble, create doubt or mess with your focus.
But poison biscuits don’t just mess with your day, they mess with your culture. They tank trust, dial up the drama and distract everyone from what really matters.
And to make things even trickier, poison biscuits aren’t always external – sometimes, the biscuit baker is inside the team, cooking up chaos and dishing up drama.
Here are some examples…
😈 The “quick fix” that derails everything. Someone suggests a solution that sounds simple; a tweak here, a shortcut there. But once it unravels, it derails your plans and leaves you to clean up the 💩 while they vanish faster than chocolate in the staff room.
😫 The unrealistic demand disguised as a must-do. Someone drops a last-minute, poorly thought-out task on your lap and expects you to work miracles. Cue chaos, finger-pointing and frustration.
🤫 The seeds of doubt that grow into chaos. Whether it’s an internal pot-stirrer or the external rumour mill, these little disruptions quickly spiral into full-blown distractions. Suspicions rise and collaboration nosedives and suddenly, it’s like you’re on an episode of Traitors.
Wherever they come from and whatever their flavour, poison biscuits are designed to disrupt, distract and divide. The key is spotting them early and refusing to bite.
So, how do you avoid them?
1️⃣ Spot the biscuit early.
If it smells funny, it probably is. Ask yourself: is this helping my school or is it just creating more chaos? If it’s the latter, leave it where you found it.
2️⃣ Protect your team’s culture.
Stella says McLaren talks every day about ‘refusing the biscuit’ because unity is everything. The same applies to your school. Keep people in the loop, share the big picture and make sure no one’s nibbling on anything that could leave a bad taste.
3️⃣ Start like you’ve lost.
Stella says you can’t afford to get comfortable or complacent, no matter how well things are going. Every day’s a new race. Treat it that way.
4️⃣ Ignore the noise.
Tune out the chatter that doesn’t align with your priorities – it’s just static. Not every fight is worth your energy. Be strategic. Ask yourself: what’s actually worth my time and what’s just a distraction, no matter how well-meaning it may seem? Focus on the stuff that matters.
5️⃣ Call out the baker.
If you’ve got someone on the inside whipping up a batch of dodgy biscuits, don’t let it slide. Address it directly – but kindly – and bring them back to the bigger picture. A bit of honest feedback now can save a world of trouble later.
As SBLs, we’re wired to run into the fray and fix everything – it’s in our nature. But sometimes, the best thing we can do is stand back and let some (just some!) things pass us by.
Not everything deserves a place on our already fully stacked plate 💫
So this week, stay steady, lean on your team and toss these particular biscuits where they belong – in the bin!