Leadership is Like Gumbo

In the bayous of South Louisiana, gumbo is a staple of our lives. As you likely know, this thick Cajun soup is prepared with whatever ingredients are readily available. We might have (in the vocal cadence, like “Bubba Gump”) seafood gumbo, chicken and andouille (sausage) gumbo, shrimp okra gumbo, filet gumbo . . . and the list goes on.

“In other parts of the world, little girls are made of sugar and spice and everything nice, while little boys are made of snips and snails and puppy dog tails. Little Cajun children, on the other hand, are made of gumbo, boudin, and sauce piquante, crawfish stew and oreilles de cochon.”

Gumbo is also the ultimate comfort food to Cajuns. When Louisiana has its first “cool snap” (when the mercury drops just below 70 degrees), you’ll likely hear someone say, “Ooh mae, this is some good gumbo weather!”

Suffice it to say that those who were raised in Cajun country were spoon-fed gumbo as toddlers. Heck, I was probably given gumbo juice in my baby bottle! As a result, we all have a preferred gumbo recipe.

This old Cajun saying still holds true:

“No two gumbos are alike . . . and nobody’s gumbo’s as good as ya mama’s!”

In fact, in my family, if I’m cooking, we’re having seafood gumbo. But if my husband is cooking, we’re having chicken andouille gumbo. And look, I wouldn’t dream of treading on his turf—nor he on mine. We each stick to our own gumbo and never the twain shall meet!

Contrary to popular belief gained from the television show Swamp People, the Cajuns are not all alligator hunters, nor do we run around in the swamps yelling “Choot ’em! Choot ’em!” Rather, Cajuns are fun-loving, generous people who enjoy a unique way of life along the river, the bayous, the prairies, and the swamps of Louisiana. Our one-of-a-kind culture both charms and intrigues outsiders; our fierce determination helps us withstand the inevitable challenges that have come our way.

So why should you care about the Cajun culture and how we cook gumbo down here in Louisiana? Because it is a wonderful analogy for leadership.

Leadership is a kind of gumbo; you add a little of this and a little of that; you bring your distinctive flavor and style to it.

However, the main steps/ingredients to making every kind of gumbo are the same. Even though your leadership style is unique, throughout these next blog articles you’ll gain a greater understanding of core principles that will strengthen the base ingredients for your success.

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Jennifer Ledet, CSP, is a leadership consultant and professional speaker (with a hint of Cajun flavor) who equips leaders from the boardroom to the mailroom to improve employee engagement, teamwork, and communication. In her customized programs, leadership retreats, keynote presentations, and breakout sessions, she cuts through the BS and talks through the tough stuff to solve your people problems