Food Glorious Food – The Most Underrated Of All Leadership Tools

With the holidays over, I find myself thinking about food.

Family Dinners.

Staff parties.

And the many times that food contributed to my success as a Leader.

Leaders Eat Last

This phrase was recently made famous as a Simon Sinek book title.

But it isn’t a new concept; leaders eating last has been the standard of victorious armies for eons.

It is when the most senior leaders of a unit only eat when all privates and corporals have eaten.

Leaders eating last accomplishes two crucial leadership functions:

  1. It is a physical expression of servant leadership. Leaders care that the troops have eaten.
  2. It allows the leader to test and correct the supply chain. Is the food hot, healthy and is there enough?

It would be best to understand there is a problem than your company’s lowest paid or ranking person does.

 

The Soldier’s Christmas Dinner

The Soldier’s Christmas Dinner is a tradition where the soldiers are given the day off from their duties.

This is possible because the officers and sergeants cover their duties and serve dinner.

It goes back thousands of years and is still in practice today.

It is a simple, thoughtful thank you and an appreciation for past and future service.

It recognizes that there would be no need for officers and sergeants without soldiers.

Final Thoughts For The Holidays

Share a meal with your team.

Give your people as much time off as possible over the holidays.

But inevitably, someone will still have to work … so call or visit each office between Christmas and New Year’s to tell those working that you appreciate their duty & service and wish them the best.

This season, be thankful for your people.

You have a job because they are good at theirs.