By Peter Jeff
The Leadership Mints Guy

Here’s an idea to bring out the best in your team. Reading time: 3:23.

Actress Tallulah Bankhead drinks champagne from one of her shoes in 1951.

          The executive offered a champagne toast, sipping the bubbly out of one of her high heel shoes. Her staff was astounded as she kicked off her shoe and began pouring the champagne in it.

      Maybe the strain of the highly stressful but successful project just completed had finally gotten the best of her.

      “You are the best. You deserve more than a traditional toast for all the work you did in making this project a success.”

       The executive had a method to her madness. She used the champagne-in-a-slipper toast as a leadership lesson that few ever have forgotten.

       Turns out those fairy tale writers may have been on to something when they told of heroes drinking out of a slipper.

       Scientists say the leather in the slipper accentuates the flavor and aroma of the champagne. The leather contains nitrogen which brings out the best flavor in the champagne. That’s what leaders do. They bring out the best in others. They build teams two by two. It all begins with that first pairing, that first combination of talents that stirs the creative pot and brings out the best in each.

      Savor some peanuts and chocolate together or German Beer and black radishes or a martini and an olive and you’ll taste the leadership difference –where protein taste agents bring out the best in the carbohydrates.

     Apple pie tastes good by itself. Combine the pie with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and it tastes even better.

      Bite into an apple and then eat a piece of cheese. Chew on a cracker and a piece of cheese. The combination tastes better than eating the cheese and the apple separately.

      Munch on a piece of chocolate. Now eat the chocolate with some nuts. The interaction between the two enhances the performance of each. Just think of munching on a Baby Ruth bar right now.

      Food scientists tell us there is literally a chemical reaction between the apple and ice cream; between the apple and the cheese, and between the chocolate and the nuts that enhances the essence of each. Indeed the most effective leaders know that none of us is as good as –or  stands as tall as–  the sum of all of us.  Even in high heels.

Today’s ImproveMINT

Foster synergy to keep your leadership thinking in mint condition.

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