- Quick Links:
Something to Read
How can a communal meal impact your team?
I have been watching “The Bear” on Hulu this summer and it has sparked my interest in food…well, I always have an interest in food…but the show has sparked my interest in the dynamics of business that are impacted by food. In the show, we see the trials and tribulations of a family-run sandwich shop reinvent itself as a restaurant aiming for a Michelin star. It is oddly categorized as a “comedy” and won several Emmy’s this past awards cycle. To me, it is more of a drama, with moments of humanity that allow me to exhale and know that I’m not the only one who has experienced whatever thing is on the screen.
Recently, we gathered some new team members and enjoyed a team dinner together. We shared stories of our lives, favorite shows and movies (I mentioned “The Bear”…because, as mentioned, it’s been on my mind), and funny stories from our past work experiences. The collective experience of sharing food together is one of my favorite things. Translating this to business and how it can have an impact on teams is a topic that has received some attention from researchers, but could use more attention. Below are a few articles that resonated with me when researching this topic.
- “Why sharing a plate leads to better negotiation outcomes” by Ayelet Fishbach
- “Team Nourishment: Teams that eat together perform better together” by Dr Andrew MacLaren for Fieri
- “In good company: Commensality’s influence on workplace well-being and productivity” a Master’s Thesis by Kaito Okamato-Garson while at Cal State Fresno – I hope he’ll publish the work and start letting us all know the value of meals in business and team development
Something to Hear
Danny Meyer has won 20 James Beard Foundation awards and built restaurants that are becoming household names – Shake Shack anyone?! On the WorkLife podcast with Adam Grant, Danny shares his perspective about leadership and building culture within his business.
“…I started taking a page out of our chef’s playbook. Guess what a recipe is? It’s using your words. If you follow these steps and do these things, you will get that result. I learned that when you do use your words, and you use them from the very get-go, when you’re hiring someone, you tell people, this is what success will look like.”
– Danny Meyer
The irony that Danny is building culture and community in a restaurant feels quite meta in the context of the other elements of this collection. That fact is not lost on me. What I loved about the interview with Danny was that he talks about how he revised and shifted his mindset over the years as a business owner to create a stronger environment that motivates his teams, keep customers coming back, and retains his team in an incredibly stressful industry.
- Hear more about how Danny Meyer shifted his perspective from calling his team a “family” to recognizing that it’s a community – perhaps even listen to this 34-minute episode over a shake burger and fries…with a mini vanilla shake, just as Danny does. Get the episdode, “How to build a great culture with restaurateur Danny Meyer” from Adam’s WorkLife website or where ever you get your podcasts.
Something to Do
Eat food with someone unexpected.
When I first drafted this collection, I was planning to write – “Make food for someone and eat it together.” Then, I remembered our recent team dinner and that one of our team members share that they actively dislike cooking.
Totally fair, but in keeping with the research we know about how important it can be to share meals, my challenge to you this month is to invite a colleague, neighbor, or acquaintance to share food together. We know that food can be a common ground and help to build connection – let this be your first moment to metaphorically extend the olive branch.
Something to See
They call her The Grey Lady, but the one day I had on Nantucket sure wasn’t Grey. Those pink roses were ready to pop – hope the next visitors enjoyed them immensely.