#122 a winning recipe

I have a sign hanging above my stove that reads "I only have a kitchen because it came with the house."  So when our university announced that Alton Brown, Food Network Iron Chef star and creator of the Good Eats series, was our featured speaker for Homecoming, I wasn't exactly impressed.  That was before I met him.

His lecture yesterday was a quirky blend of humor and information -- actually modeling what great teaching is about -- but what made the biggest impression on me was his post-show performance.  Mr. Brown was on stage for about 75 minutes -- and then spent the next 120 minutes signing and posing for photos.  The line snaked around the room, and he stayed for every last person to have whatever they brought signed by him.  He autographed books, of course, but also kitchen implements, programs, posters, magazines, DVDs, recipe holders, towels, and even the shirt someone was wearing.  Most impressively, he spent time with each person -- shaking their hand, answering questions, posing for photos -- and in that minute or so, acting as if the other person was the only person in the room.  He was gracious, personable, humble, patient and encouraging.  He certainly went way beyond my expectations with how much care he bestowed on those who waited to see him.

Maybe I was more conscious about his behavior because I am in the middle of reading Choosing Civility (by P.M. Forni).  Our community foundation made copies available at cost and is in the middle of a city-wide reading/discussion program about civility and how to foster such behavior in our town.  Forni writes about 25 rules of "considerate conduct" and today Mr. Brown modeled all those I have read so far, especially "pay attention" and "acknowledge others".  In the middle of signing hundreds of books, he specifically recognized those who were (part of the thousand people in attendance and ) among the 25 people who came up to the microphone and asked a question during his lecture, and commented on the question they asked!  For each and every person, he held out his hand and greeted them ("Hello, I'm Alton"), which of course led to the sharing of their name and a discussion ensued.  Not just with person #1, but every single person in this incredibly long line.  

The 800 people who left without having something signed certainly had an entertaining afternoon, but they missed the most important lessons that Mr. Brown had to offer.  Apparently with "good eats" comes good manners, and it was a treat to savor seeing both.

-- beth triplett
leadershipdots.blogspot.com
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