PRESS RELEASE
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What is Leadership?
by Jason Allgeier
My journaling topic today shall address the question, what is leadership. Last week Mark, Dave and I got the privilege of going with Dan Cathy to a Chic-fil-A opening in Pittsburg. Along the way, however, we went to Myrtle Beach and visited nearly all the Chic Fil A's in that area. Every single store we visited Mr. Cathy did something which surprised and somewhat bewildered me. He would always go to the tables which had customers eating and offer to take their trays, or pick up some garbage they had on their table, or something similar. Then he would talk to them, ask them about their family and such, and genuinely listen to what they had to say.
When I picture the CEO of a major company, I do not see a meek loving man going around and serving his customers, in essence doing the job he pays thousands of people to do. Then it hit me, Mr. Cathy was personifying the servant leadership we have been learning about for the last several months. At first I thought it might be just a façade, a hoax to make us think he was a great person, but as the day wore on and he continuously took genuine interest in even the lowliest customers and employees I began to understand that this was really who he is. He truly believes in servant leadership, and all the attributes accredited to that concept. He cares for his customers and he is not ashamed to clean up after them if it shows them that he cares.
What is leadership? Leadership is being in a position of authority yet being humble and willing to serve. Leadership is caring for those you lead and having a heart to show them personally what it is you desire for them to do. Leadership is the life Dan Cathy lives, every hour of every day.
This week we were privileged to have Chick-fil-A founder
Truett Cathy come to campus to spend some time with our students.
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What's the most important ingredient
in lemonade?
Dan Cathy poses for a photo in Pittsburgh, PA as a brand new Chick-fil-A
is about to open.
All aboard! Group poses for a quick pic before boarding the Chick-fil-A plane.
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