Review: Love Your Enemies by Arthur C. Brooks - And how it Relates to YOUR Restaurant (and culture)!

Finished reading (ok you caught me, listening) to Love Your Enemies by Arthur C. Brooks this week, and weirdly found myself relating a lot of the concepts to my time in the restaurant industry.

The book explores the concept of empathy and understanding towards those with differing political and ideological views. Brooks argues that a culture of contempt hinders progress and societal harmony. He proposes a shift towards a culture of empathy and respect, where individuals engage with those they disagree with in a constructive and respectful manner. Love Your Enemies hits you over and over with the notion that by practicing empathy and seeking common ground, individuals can bridge divides and foster a more united and compassionate society.

How does saving arguments with grandpa at the Thanksgiving table over politics relate?

With just over 20 years working in some of the most different restaurants imaginable, I have found myself working with A LOT of people who think through problems, handle stressful moments, and in general see the world very differently than I do. And saying it that nicely doesn't even begin to touch how different people are when you start managing them, or managing with them.

At the end of the day, if you do not set core values, core values defines themself. I think in so many words, that's the point Arthur Brooks is making... in our society and political culture, someone took their hands off the wheel and allowed our nation to develop a culture of blame finding, talking heads, and trolling instead of a culture working to find solutions, leaders, compassion, and empathy. (Starting to sound like where you work, or your restaurant's culture?)

If you're a leader in the restaurant space, I encourage you to not jump into someone's ass the next time they're 5 minutes late, or don't do something they way you would have (especially if you pride yourself on "giving them room to fail"), or drop the thermometer in the deep fryer 3 times in the same dinner rush. Quit blaming "this generation", and start taking accountability for the culture of contempt that YOU have allowed to foster (either passively or actively).

If you don't know where to start, or how to change your culture, read this book or any hundreds of others like it and start to re-think how you approach already pressure-filled situations in your restaurant with the correct core values and culture of love in mind. Your employee's aren't your enemies. They're the biggest asset you have between profitability and the restaurant you dream of, and shuttering your doors forever.

[Steve Machovec] [Disruptor] [Proforma] [[email protected]] [440-668-8019] #RestaurantCulture #EmployeeEngagement #BrandBuilding #CustomTshirts

P.S. If you hit play, and watched your restaurant operate on mute; would you see a culture of contempt, or a culture of love and empathy?