One of the principles behind my Craft Brewery Pilgrimage is that leadership has a lot in common with creating a great craft brew.
Being an effective leader begins with pulling together the best ingredients. Those ingredients include the resources you need to lead; the finest skills, financial resources, perseverance, the leadership qualities within your self, the best people you can find.
You put ingredients together in creative new combinations. You try new recipes, discover new approaches, and develop new flavors. Sometimes things that you do not think will go together well surprise you. Sometimes old favorites will not work together as well as they have before, and changes need to be made. Sometimes you are trying to make something as substantial as a porter or a stout; sometimes you are looking for something refreshing. Sometimes the best thing to do is recognize your mistakes and start over at the beginning. Each time, you learn something new.
Leadership and brewing both take a lot of patience. There are reasons why monks have made so many significant contributions to brewing! You do your best, and then wait for the results to become evident. You wait to see if you were able to bring out the best in the ingredients, and get them to work well together. There is always room for improvement the next time.
I have met quite a few brewers, and leaders, over the last few months. Each of them is looking for ways to bring out the best in what they have, the best in themselves, and not get in the way. It fascinates me to witness people who see things so differently, with so many diverse personalities, with such a variety of plans and desires, bring their core values to bear on building their visions. It inspires me and brings out the best in me, as well.
What do you see yourself brewing during the next year?
[Image by jerine]
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