An Exploratory Study of Restaurant Leadership Approaches: Some Preliminary Findings

Given the current difficulties faced by the restaurant industry, effective leadership may be even more vital than ever before. This exploratory study seeks to investigate leadership approaches used by multi-unit restaurant leaders in difficult times. As part of a larger study, in-depth interviews were conducted with nine top leaders to assess their strategies for developing trust, reinforcing key values and developing employee accountability. A number of specific tactics are discussed which reveal interesting ways of leading and may be useful for multi-unit management