One of leadership lessons famous restauranteur Danny Meyer writes about is the “saltshaker theory.” His friend Pat Cetta taught it to him one day where Danny was feeling stressed about pressures in running his business. Meyer writes,
“Pat pointed to the set table next to us. ‘First,’ he said, ‘I want you to take everything off that table except for the saltshaker. Go ahead! Get rid of the plates, the silverware, the napkins, even the pepper mill. I just want you to leave the saltshaker by itself in the middle.” I did as he said, and he asked, “Where is the saltshaker now?”
“Right where you told me, in the center of the table.”
“Are you sure that’s where you want it?” I looked closely. The shaker was actually about a quarter of an inch off center. “Go ahead. Put it where you really want it,” he said. I moved it very slightly to what looked to be smack-dab in the center. As soon as I removed my hand, Pat pushed the saltshaker three inches off center.”
“Now put it back where you want it,” he said. I returned it to dead center. This time he moved the shaker another six inches off center, again asking, “Now where do you want it?”
I slid it back. Then he explained his point. “Listen… your staff and your guests are always moving your saltshaker off center. That’s their job. It is the job of life. It is the law of entropy.” Pat then explained leadership is not being surprised or frustrated when the saltshaker is not where it was left, a leader’s job is to steadily set the example of where it should be.
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