Food & Leadership: A Most Satiating Meal

To provide food is an intrinsic form of leadership that is often overlooked. In modern times, especially in Western cultures we are quite independent about how we get our food. However if we look back towards our early ancestors 50,000 years ago in hunter gather cultures, there is a strong correlation between who lead & who provided food. The phrase "putting food on the table" is instructive for figuring our who is the true head of the household in a family. The best leaders know the value of providing both inspirational food & physical food. In some dire situations physical food may even be necessary first before the inspirational food of leadership can take affect. 

As a personal example I remember years ago being a poor hungry college student at one of my first jobs. My boss was one of the most natural leaders I have ever encountered, & at the time I was unsure if I would be able to succeed in the company. In short my boss took me to a Chipotle so that we could talk about my future. To be honest I do not remember any of the conversation that we had, what I remember was him providing me with food. I remember offering to pay, attempting to recollect if I had enough money in my debt account to cover the cost, & him telling me he had it covered. I do not even recall the inspirational food of leadership my boss provided, only the physical food. I would subsequently go on to having the most productive week I ever had at work after this meeting. One of the beauties of physical food as a form of leadership it is relatively easy to do, you do not even have to make the food only provide it. In my particular case after this moment I understood that my boss was there to provide for me, which motivated me to do better at work.

The last few years I have become enamored with Ernest Shackleton's timeless leadership.Throughout his Antarctic expeditions Shackleton would use food to encourage his men, break up monotony, & prepare them for treacherous journey's ahead. Shackleton would lead through providing food during special occasions such as the holidays, "Christmas was celebrated with some carefully held back treats, plum pudding, brandy, cigars and a spoonful of creme de menthe each." Shackleton was affectionately called by his men "The Boss", even through death defying adventures, they were immensely loyal to him. It goes without saying that just by providing people with food will not provide a leader with unshakable loyalty, but one would be hard pressed to not consider it as a component.

Shackleton & His Men Enjoying Warm Tea

An additional example of Shackleton using food as a form of leadership occurred with his failed attempt to the true South Pole. The men were exhausted, at their limits, and Shackleton knew that to go on further would be risking the lives of the people under his care which was not acceptable. The decision was made to head back, but before going back Shackleton shared with his men candied fruit he had been saving for when they had reached the True South Pole. Leadership is not just shown in moments of triumph, often when the best leaders are differentiated is in times of great defeat.

As evolving leaders we need to use all tools available to us for the betterment of the people in our care. This includes being aware of the leaders of history, as well as the ones we interact with in our day-to-day lives. Providing physical food alone will not make you a leader. Nor will providing solely inspirational food. Leadership is a consistent combination of traits that show you have at heart the best interests of those in your care. I believe that the physical food of leadership in modern times is often overlooked. Even if we have readily available access to food, it will always feel good to have it provided for us. In conclusion feed those whom are under your care, not just with inspirational food that will motivate them individually, but as well with physical food that will bring them together under a unified vision.