Lookout!

Saturday evening…

we were hot…

tired…

and had waited…

entirely too long…

to eat dinner.

We were also…

out of town.

It was honestly…

one of those “crisis moments”…

when you’re certain…

the last…

of your remaining blood sugar…

just left through your feet.

Hero Hubby hit…

an iPhone search…

and came up…

with a Sizzler close by.

Many are aware…

that the Sizzler corporation…

went bankrupt years ago.

So…

remaining restaurants…

are privately owned.

Here is the gist…

of the conversation.

HH: “We’ll try Sizzler.”

Me: “What if it’s a gross one?”

( I can be really optimistic like that!)

HH: “Then we’ll go back to the Outback…

that we just happened to pass.”

Here is the “gross” Sizzler.

I’ve honestly…

never experienced one so nice!

It was merely…

a couple of notches…

down from semi-formal dining.

And…

upon our arrival…

was jam packed.

Gone…

was the garlic cheese toast…

ever present in my youth…

and hel-lo fresh…

hot yeast rolls…

with honey butter!

The salad bar…

was nearly twice…

the size…

of the normal…

point of reference.

There were staff…

fluttering everywhere…

to meet the demands…

of ever present customers.

One gentleman…

could clearly…

be identified…

as “management.”

He honestly…

possessed the confidence…

and poise…

of a great leader.

But he looked tired.

After we…

were finally seated…

I noticed…

he had “set up shop”…

nearby…

in a two person booth…

that was facing me.

Shortly after…

our arrival…

a family came…

with individuals…

that were elderly…

as well as some…

with special needs.

The “manager”…

was working diligently…

on a laptop…

materials…

openly visible…

on all sides.

He was definitely busy.

Hero Hubby and I…

are always looking…

for examples of leadership…

being practiced…

in the day to day.

It’s a valuable discipline…

because it encourages you…

to dedicate yourself…

to finding the positive…

as well as the practice…

of encouraging others.

All of a sudden…

an individual…

at the above table…

spilled their drink.

Of course…

it wasn’t a small one.

There was liquid…

traveling everywhere.

Up…

down…

across…

sideways…

with ice…

and plenty of protests…

following.

The manager…

while deeply committed…

to his work…

literally jumped up…

reassured the flustered gentleman…

attempting to get things…

under control…

with, “Sir, hang on…

I’m here to help…

I’ll be right back.”

It should be mentioned…

that there were…

lesser staff…

present in the room.

This man…

literally ran…

to the kitchen…

grabbed hot rags…

as well as several…

other individuals….

and returned…

to the table promptly.

Crisis solved.

The embarassed family…

looked relieved…

while apologizing profusely…

for the inconvenience.

Once the man…

was again seated…

it struck me…

how unnecessary…

it had been…

for him…

to “go the extra mile.”

My boys…

had taken…

this in as well.

I pointed out…

his stellar decision…

to lead by example…

and then decided…

that I should also…

share my appreciation with him!

Initially…

he looked slightly embarrassed.

I insisted…

that his example…

was rare…

in today’s culture…

was very much noticed…

and highly appreciated.

He smiled warmly…

and up close…

looked more fatigued…

than I had initially thought.

“Ma’m…

you honestly…

just made my day…

which has been 14 hours long…

so far…

and your compliment…

is an incredibly appreciated boost.”

I reiterated…

how vital…

Servant Leadership…

is…

in today’s society…

and thanked him again.

He smiled at me…

and said “Good Night!”…

as he rose to leave.

Imagine my shock…

when the real manager…

pulled up a chair…

next to mine…

and introduced herself…

about 20 minutes later!

She handed me…

a gift certificate…

for two free dinners…

compliments…

of the Vice President…

of Operations…

for 25 restaurants…

in their corporation!

“This Sizzler…

just re-opened 5 weeks ago,”…

she explained.

“He’s been working…

with all of the employees…

on definitions of Leadership.

You honestly made his night!”

I wasn’t unhappy either!

I must ask…

how are our day-to-day practices…

of recognizing Leadership examples…

and efforts going?

Whether at home…

in a restaurant…

or just simply…

“out and about”…

are we looking for behavior…

that reinforces…

the habits and practices…

we expound upon and desire?

I hope so!

While a complimentary meal…

may not be riding on it…

lots of efforts…

and eventual habits are!

Verbal recognition…

is so effective…

and it, too…

is free!