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1 September 2016

LEADERS AS SOMMELIERS

Why does thinking like a Sommelier help to run the organisation efficiently?
To begin with, the growth of an organisation requires different varieties of skills, talents and insights. Whether employees, investors, colleagues or customers, the important thing is to be able to create the right mix to achieve something amazing.
Every sommelier worth his salt always makes sure that he has the right variety of wine in his cellar. Likewise, leaders must consider the importance of diversity in their teams in order to attract a wide range of talent and enrich the quality of the result. The different types of wine connect in many ways with the characteristics that ideal leaders should possess.

As a sommelier would say, "...there is a type of wine for every problem one encounters..." and the different flavours, aromas and characteristics remind us of the best way to handle so many different situations. We have chosen five wines for five metaphors:

1. Cabernet Sauvignon: Time to include women
This wine refuses to be ignored, has a firm grip and knows its value. Especially recommended in times of difficulty for its boldness and persistence.

2. Pinot Noir: Embracing complexity
With its elegance, it suggests that sometimes there are no shortcuts and the key to finding refined solutions to difficult situations is to be patient and flexible in order to make changes until you get the right one.

3. Chardonnay: Ignoring enemies
In the words of Mark Twain, 'There are no standards of taste whether it be wine, poetry or entrepreneurship'.

4. Sauvignon Blanc: uniqueness and freshness
Leaders must be able to step back, see problems with fresh eyes and be positive. Like a fresh Chardonney, a good leader must forget traditional roles and be unique.

5. Zinfandel: unity is strength.
Just as Zinfandel brings the whole family together around a glass of wine, a good leader knows how to build a team that can be trusted and always counted on. This wine knows how to keep people on board and never forgets to say thank you. Even when the going gets tough, Zinfandel always maintains a glass-half-full attitude.

Everyone has their own preferences when it comes to wine, but a good leader is aware that the key to success is a good combination of all elements of the whole. Thinking like a sommelier will lead the leader to a greater understanding of complexities, a better capacity for analysis and problem solving and above all will lead to a greater recognition of theuniqueness of its activities.