Donald Burns (speaker) argues that leaders in bars, nightclubs, and restaurants function as sources of energy that shape team culture and service. Team members give most energy to people they are close to and like; therefore leaders who take ownership of the energy they project can materially improve restaurant culture, while poor leadership energy produces bad culture.
When you're the leader in your bar, nightclub or restaurant, you become a source of energy that feeds the culture. People tend to give the most energy to those they are close to and also people they like the most. Those people close to the energy source have it really, really good. You're the energy that creates culture. Bad culture comes from bad energy which comes from bad leaders. If you can take ownership of the idea that your service team gets their energy from you, then you've managed to take a really big step forward towards getting a better restaurant.
If your restaurant only works because you work 80 hours a week, it doesn't work.
