What your business can learn from the worst restaurant in Detroit.
It was a cold December evening a few years ago when my gal pal, Anne Marie and I finally got a reservation to the newest and hottest restaurant in Detroit.
We heated up in the vestibule of the restaurant while the hostess prepared our place. It was so popular that our reservation wasn't for an actual table - we got bar seats.
No matter, we were here and ready to see what all the buzz was about!
We squeezed into our seats and I ordered my staple cocktail - an old fashioned.
Bourbon, a hint of sugar, some bitters and a spritz of orange on ice. When done well, there's a hint of sweetness to mellow the bite of the bourbon.
My drink came and the hint of sugar was more like a dump truck of sweetness straight from Willy Wonka's factory.
It wasn't just sweet, it was saccharine sweet.
Anne Marie had a taste and agreed it was undrinkable.
I figured there must have been a mistake in its preparation and wanted to let the bartender know.
When the bartender returned, I mentioned that the drink, "was not to my taste" and that I had expected it to be less sweet.
Now typically in this situation, the drink will be remade, incorporating the guest's feedback, right?
In response he grabbed the bar mixing spoon and brought it up to my face, pointing to the spoon bowl and said angrily, "This is how much sugar I put in. That's how it's made."
Whatever the case may be, the drink wasn't to my liking, and I didn't want to order another drink from him, because I didn't trust him to take any more feedback.
I stuck with water, instead.
You know what it feels like to be shut down by someone, right? A client? A spouse? A coworker or manager? It sucks!
When we become so focused on being right, it automatically makes everyone else wrong.
We can no longer incorporate feedback, collaborate productively or help people feel comfortable around us.
Our fragile egos need so much tending and reassurance that they handcuff us.
Feedback is a two-way street.
We have to be able to receive it. We have to know how to give it.
But that's not the end of my story at this restaurant.
Laura Khalil is a business coach and advisor that helps entrepreneurial women work only with clients they love and double their revenue. See how easy it can be to double your revenue in the next three months.
She has consulted for some of the world’s most recognizable brands on marketing including GE, Intel and Twitter. She is host the Top 125 Apple Podcast, Brave by Design. She is a frequent speaker to audiences on personal branding, bravery and clear communication. She’s spoken at WeWork, Paylocity, Creative Mornings, Zingtrain and more.
