Danny Meyer, Setting the Table
Ever wondered if you can be a good boss without being mean and hated? Do you fall asleep at the thought of a business book? Love food and a good “How I Made It” story? If your answers are yes, yes and yes, you are in luck, because there is a book that ticks all three of those boxes.
Danny Meyer is an award-winning New York restaurateur (his career highlights include Union Square Café and Shake Shack), and he tells the story of how he started his business in this easy-to-read book.
Setting the Table is an interesting story peppered with vital details for today’s business leader. Danny Meyer explains what drives him and what he thinks underpins his success, and he also succinctly explains the main points of how he manages his team.
As the Chief Executive Officer of Union Square Hospitality Group, Danny Meyer has many people to manage, and he stays true to the use of the term “hospitality.”
His management style is gentle yet firm, and supportive without spoon-feeding. The results of his style have spoken volumes: online testimonials, the growth of his business, and Zagat ratings over the years.
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What is perhaps most inspirational is the candour with which he reveals mistakes made along the way and how they were dealt with. Being able to relate to someone so successful, and understand his logic and challenges makes you want to be a better leader for your business. The simplicity with which he engages you makes you believe that you can.
For me, this is a real gem of a book that inspires the reader to be a better leader in a very “human” way. After all, as Meyer says, “Business, like life, is all about how you make people feel. It’s that simple, and it’s that hard.”
Buy Setting the Table here.
Image: Union Square Hospitality Group
