The Kitchen as a Creative Space

January 3rd, 2008 · No Comments

My wife and I recently were invited to a top class restaurant in the city. As part of this experience we were also given the opportunity to go behind the scenes and see how the kitchen operates under the instruction of the leading chef.

The kitchen is a wonderful metaphor for a creative business. There is passion and energy. The standards are high with an absolute focus on each stage of the dish without losing sight of the complete meal. When we talked to the chef he mentioned that the ideas for the meals come from all over the world. They then adapt the best of these and make it their own.

Another aspect of their work that leaders could learn from is their emphasis on experimentation. They are constantly playing around with a meal and different ingredients to make it better. The mesage? Creativity often emerges in the most unexpected of places, spaces and times.