This inspiration for this VIM Executive Coaching post on “Leadership Recipes” comes from a former executive chef who would go on to developing a successful, 27-unit chain. He was a former client who remained a good friend (and he was always good for providing new recipes for dinner parties!).
One day, we turned the tables (no pun) on him:
“It looks like you have struck on a strong concept and your chain is thriving. What is your secret recipe for success?”
Normally an affable, almost carefree individual, he turned serious, direct and measured.
There is no Recipe
“If you can find a leadership cook book with a guaranteed recipe for success, send me the first copy.”
He went on to say that one thing is certain: it is absolutely impossible to please everyone. You can put slogans on the wall, hand out T-shirts with clever sayings, give bonuses for customer service, and throw huge parties for employees-of-the-month. While all of those have been tried, and he tried them, they don’t guarantee love or respect or a team attitude.
“In the course of a year, with more than 650 employees, I will see stealing, sexual harassment, poor customer service, bullying, and a whole range of policy violations. That’s a fact of life. I’ll also see outstanding customer service, honesty, loyalty and acts of kindness.”
We wanted to know how he leads given such challenges and opportunities. He started by paying VIM Executive Coaching a compliment.
“You taught me to be authentic and mindful and it starts from there.”
Despite the care his people take to hire hard-working, ethical and compassionate people, he “cannot change the world.” All of the references may check out, all of the credentials may be in place, but there is no crystal ball to predict future behavior.
“I have been disappointed and also surprised. What I don’t want to do is to surprise myself.”
Authenticity
This hard-working executive leader takes the time to meditate for ten minutes every morning. He does so to “find his center.” He focuses on always being himself, and being consistent in his responses no matter the situation. The core values of his company are his core values.
“I am a flawed person but my core values are not. I will not tolerate intolerance or bigotry; harassment or bullying. I embrace acceptance, diversity, promotability and opportunity.”
In his leadership he always sets his focus on how he would feel in a situation, how he would respond, how he would view a “state of affairs” from the outside.
About six months prior he fired a purchasing assistant on-the-spot who accepted several bribes from a vendor. He also gave a firm warning to his accounting department and the assistant’s boss. It was not a reaction out of anger (though he was angry) but a response to his core values.
“I thought about how her accepting bribes ultimately limited opportunities for me to build a new location where I could hire people who really needed work. I am financially comfortable now, very comfortable, but I remembered when I had nothing but my values.”
In other words, he wanted the same authenticity in others he found in himself. Was that the recipe?
“The recipe changes from day-to-day. I will not make everyone happy every day, but I hope they say ‘I know exactly where he stands.’ Mindfulness is the key to that.”