Leadership Lessons Are Everywhere

I’ve always been a believer that leadership principles and examples can be found everywhere. You can see great leadership at work when you watch a parent interacting with a child. (I think many of us honed our negotiation skills that way, too.) I’ve learned great truths from watching a movie. You can learn great principles from unexpected places if you’re looking for them.

In a previous post, I wrote about Zingerman’s, the Ann Arbor based collection of businesses mostly centered around great food. One of the founding partners, Ari Weinzweig has written several books about customer service, business practices, and leadership. You will find leadership principles on display at Zingerman’s. You will also find that Ari discovered some of these principles in the least likely of places.

An Anarchist Turns Capitalist

As a student at the University of Michigan in the 1970s, Ari was influenced by the writings of 20^th century anarchists. He quotes now obscure names like Mikhail Bakunin, Rudolf Rocker and Nestor Makhno. (Yes, it is odd that an early anarchist turned into an entrepreneurial capitalist. If you think that’s strange, it’s just part of many ironies involving Ari. He grew up in a kosher household and is now the author of The Guide to Better Bacon. He even runs a Bacon Camp.) Though he obviously abandoned his anarchist roots, he adopted some of the thinking in running a business. He is also careful to explain the difference between anarchy and anarchism. Anarchy is a “state of leaderless bedlam” where anarchism is a philosophy based on individual respect and freedom from unnecessary authority. In any case, it seems that his philosophy led him to a high respect for people, allowing them to pursue their own passions, and giving employees more freedom and choice because they generally will do the right thing.

The Scene:

The restaurant is buzzing with conversation. The clinking of glasses and silverware can be heard above the laughter. Scents of barbeque and aromatic flavors permeate the room. Enter a man who moves from table to table, quietly filling the water glasses.

Restaurant Attendant (smiling): “You like the mac and cheese?”

You (eyes wide open): “Are you kidding? I didn’t even know you could do this with macaroni and cheese! Fantastic.”

Attendant: “That macaroni is handmade for us by the Martelli family in Tuscany. Just what we wanted. The two-year-old Vermont cheddar cheese is caramelized. We thought the combination was perfect.”

You, thinking, but not saying aloud, “Who is this guy? What type of water boy knows this stuff?”

Attendant, interrupting your thoughts: “Do you want some more bread? You’re eating the Roadhouse bread, but you may also want to try the Irish Brown Soda bread tonight.”

You: “Is it as good as what we’re eating now?”

Attendant: “Depends on your taste, but it’s good. We source the oatmeal from the Creedon family, the same family who makes our Irish stone ground oatmeal. It makes the flavor and texture. I’ll be right back with some for you to taste. Oh, and I’d love to give you a taste of our barbeque tonight.”

You (turning to me, shrugging as he leaves): “Who is THAT?”

Me: “That, my friend, is Ari, the most unusual water boy you will ever meet. He’s the owner!”

You (feigned choking): “The owner?!”

It’s true. Ari Weinzweig is one of the restaurant owners, but he also fills water glasses at the restaurant. Yes, you read that right. As a partner in a multi-million dollar conglomerate, he personally walks around filling water glasses in order to stay close to the customers.

Ah, Zingerman’s.