Watching Kitchen Nightmares has given me some insight into the leadership qualities needed by a chef.
The chef not only cooks, but has to be in charge of the kitchen and the staff. If the chef is indecisive or unclear, things fall apart.
Celebrity chef, Gordon Ramsay who hosts Kitchen Nightmares certainly takes charge, often in a confrontational manner.
Jonathan Cormack of the Hay Group takes a look at Ramsay's leadership style on the show.
Leadership Styles Identified By Cormack
- Just Do It Ramsay
- Pacesetting Ramsay
- Visionary Ramsay
- Team Ramsay
- Coach Ramsay
Cormack says
The range of styles that Ramsay uses results in a climate of high performance. Interestingly, there are close parallels between these styles and what we see highly effective leaders using in business.
None of the styles are right or wrong. Successful leaders are adept at choosing the right style depending on both the situation and person they want to influence.
Leaders need to know themselves and their strengths. They also need to understand others, and balance business needs and people.
Striking this balance is the mark of an effective leader, coach or mentor.
I have watched a lot of the Gordon Ramsay shows. At first I liked them but I increasingly found his 'leadership' style to be worse than confrontational - more like bullying. The show is very formulaic and he tends to single out one individual each time and humiliate them in front of a group of co-workers - not to mention the X millions of viewers.
Ok, the individual is usually someone who isn't good at their job - however, he uses too-aggressive tactics and in a couple of cases I think he will have seriously scarred the recipients of this apparent maltreatment, some of whom had simply by the fates of life fallen into the wrong job. It can happen to many of us and I don't think it justifies the public humiliation approach.
I know that sometimes people need a kick up the bum but I don't agree with abuse of power which is what I have come to believe Ramsay does as a matter of course for the show. I find it quite disturbing in fact, that this behaviour could be seen as presenting a positive role model for us all to follow.
His formula appears to work for the businesses he goes to - but I don't think destroying people in public is necessary or advisable for success in any business.
Posted by: Sarah | April 2, 2008 8:46 AM | Permalink to Comment