Vanessa Cardwell’s Post

Why do we need people to challenge us? What’s the upside of having our cage rattled? Today I had the privilege of delivering my “Fearless Leadership” workshop where we drilled down into the two biggest fears that hold us back; fear of rejection and fear of failure. One of the things that used to get in the way for me as a leader was fear of rejection, and because of that I tended to take it quite badly when people challenged me. I would take it as rejection. However I learned to reframe that rejection as a positive thing; being open to challenge is a sign of strong leadership not weak leadership. The picture below is a perfect example of why being challenged is a good thing. It depicts the great upset that occurred when wine connoisseurs, in a blind tasting, unanimously agreed that the Californian wine was superior to the French wine. Nobody there liked having their views challenged but it marked a turning point for the wine industry and allowed us to enjoy some first class new world wines. (Just to be sure I took part in a wine tasting last night at The Vineyard where this picture can be found, and I can confirm the wine WAS wonderful.) So you see, being open to challenge can be the catalyst for many wonderful things. Big thanks to Sarah Green and Martin Knights for inviting me to give this workshop (and for kick-starting it with a wine tour last night….that’s something I will never challenge.) #workshop #leadership #fearofrejection #psychologicalsafety #collectiveintelligence #decisionmaking #growthmindset

Complex vs. Complicated During a recent wine tasting, the vineyard owner eloquently explained the difference between complicated and complex wines – a distinction that also carries valuable lessons for navigating leadership challenges. Complicated wines are difficult to identify in a blind tasting. However, for a Master of Wine with extensive expertise, unraveling that complication is within their abilities. Complex wines, on the other hand, tells us something about the inherent complexity of life itself. The more questions we ask, the more answers – and often, more questions – arise. This beautifully captures the distinction between complicated and complex leadership challenges. Competent leaders can tackle complicated challenges through their knowledge and experience. But complex challenges require a different approach – one that mobilizes diverse perspectives and asks better questions to unravel the intricacies. As the vineyard owner reminded us, complex ≠ complicated. While complicated tasks demand expertise, complex challenges demand humility, curiosity, and the ability to orchestrate a symphony of diverse perspectives. This is not a new idea of course, see the article link attached for example; I just felt an obligation to let you know that it is true in the world of grapes, as well. ☺️ https://lnkd.in/gbUH4HYg #leadership #leadershipchallenges #leadershipdevelopment

Last month, I had dinner with the master sommelier of Silver Sea Cruises.  The conversation wasn't just about wine - it was about mastery. Imagine tasting five first-growth wines from France's left bank.  For wine enthusiasts, this is the equivalent of test-driving five Ferraris in one day.  A true once-in-a-lifetime experience. But what struck me most wasn't the exceptional wines - it was Frank's (the master sommelier) approach to his craft. Here was someone operating purely in his zone of genius.  His energy wasn't split between management meetings or operational tasks.  He was laser-focused on what he did best: mastering and sharing his expertise about wine. It reminded me of a crucial leadership lesson: When we allow people to work in their zone of genius - whether that's selecting world-class wines or writing code - they don't just perform tasks. They create experiences. They innovate. They excel. Too often, we dilute expertise by asking people to wear all three hats, or sit in all three seats.  We pull them away from their craft for the sake of "growth" or "efficiency." But true value isn't created by being average at many things.  It comes from being exceptional at what you do best. Thank you, Frank, for this delicious reminder about the power of staying true to your craft. What's your zone of genius? Are you getting enough time to operate in it? P.S. Yes, the wines were extraordinary. 🍷 #Leadership #Expertise #ReturnOnEnergy

If milk goes bad, it becomes yoghurt—more valuable than milk. If it gets even worse, it turns into cheese, which is even more valuable than both yoghurt and milk. Similarly, if grape juice turns sour, it transforms into wine, which is even more valuable than grape juice. You are not defined by your mistakes. Mistakes are the experiences that make you more valuable as a person. Christopher Columbus made a navigational error that led to the discovery of America. Alexander Fleming’s mistake led to the invention of Penicillin. Don’t let your mistakes get you down. It's not practice that makes perfect. It's learning from our mistakes that makes us perfect little by little! #Leadership #PersonalGrowth #Resilience #LearningFromMistakes #ValueInMistakes

Value your Mistakes or Mis-Takes 📸 -> When milk spoils, it becomes yogurt. Yogurt is more valuable than milk. -> If it deteriorates further, it becomes cheese. Cheese is even more valuable. -> Similarly, sour grape juice transforms into wine. Wine surpasses the value of grape juice. -> Mistakes don't define you negatively; they enrich your experience and value. 💡Alexander Fleming's error led to the discovery of Penicillin. ⭐️ Remember, it's not practice that makes perfect, but the lessons we learn from our mistakes! #EmbraceMistakes #GrowthMindset #LearnAndGrow #ValueInExperience #Innovation #Coaching #Leadership #Science #Discovery

🌟 Quick Tip from Culinary Management to Business Strategy 🌟 Here’s a lesson from Maharashtrian cuisine that can teach us a lot about creating a well-rounded business strategy. In cuisine, you might find a dish that serves multiple roles: starter, entrée, or snack. Similarly, your business strategy should be versatile, bringing together different elements seamlessly: - Spice = creativity and innovation - Protein = solid business fundamentals - Carbohydrates = sustainable growth When these elements come together, they create a strategy that is both balanced and appealing. How do you ensure your business strategy is as well-rounded as a classic Maharashtrian dish? 🧐 #BusinessStrategy #Productivity #Innovation #SustainableGrowth #Leadership #CulinaryLessons #

🍺 beer/leadership musings (cont): ‘I’ve got the red wine for our pizza night’ ?? Red wine? The proper accompaniment to pizza is…. Beer (of course) 40+ years of habit: pizza/beer Red wine goes with spaghetti. Turns out, red wine can go well with pizza. Just took a nudge/shove for me to try it and appreciate it. In leadership, we work on developing our skills and approaches in many areas. Except…. the ones we don’t. Those rusted on habits that we shrug and say ‘that’s just me’. Or, the ones we don’t want to change (like pizza with beer). What are we missing out on? Red wine is not a big leap. It’s an adjacent possibility. It allows for expansion. I do that in many areas. So why not with those rusted on habits? What might be? As a leader, what am I demonstrating? Cheers 🍻 #whataboutthebeer #adjacentpossibilities #expansion

Chefs at the tasting table huddle at the end of the day and give constructive feedback for all things that happen inside their kitchen. Learn more about Constructive Feedback by watching the full video here: https://lnkd.in/geAquBn4 #mycourseroom #onlinecourse #onlinelearning #onlineeducation #constructivefeedback #feedback

The easy wins matter. The tasks that you can pick and harvest with minimal effort are important. Focusing on easy wins does 3 things: Shows ownership you're making an immediate impact, which helps you get more resources Helps you win credibility from your team because you're able to produce Gives you momentum to start winning It’s like making your bed in the morning—small, simple, but powerful. These low-hanging fruits are ripe, juicy, and still add to the bottom line.   We all have major goals but don't neglect the stuff that's right in front of you that really will make a massive impact and provide easy early wins. They’ll push your operation forward, earn trust from your team, and build rapport—all while making your team look like rock stars.   When your team wins, you win. 🔗 SUCCESSFULLY RUN YOUR CULINARY OPERATION SO IT’S NOT RUNNING YOU. www.legitconcepts.com . . . #LegitConcepts #BeyondTheFood #MiseEnPlace #CulinaryExcellence #ExecutiveChef #CulinaryLeadership #MomentumMatters #LowHangingFruit

The reports are in, and traffic is down year on year (to date) in many regions. While all are hopeful it will return to at least 2019 levels, several WISE wineries are focusing on driving revenue beyond the tasting room. Read about three ways to drive revenue even when traffic is slow. https://lnkd.in/gjvq8R4J