CEOs say how you treat a waiter can predict a lot about character

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

It's hard to get a dozen CEOs to agree about anything, but all interviewed agree with the Waiter Rule.

They acknowledge that CEOs live in a Lake Wobegon world where every dinner or lunch partner is above average in their deference. How others treat the CEO says nothing, they say. But how others treat the waiter is like a magical window into the soul.

And beware of anyone who pulls out the power card to say something like, "I could buy this place and fire you," or "I know the owner and I could have you fired." Those who say such things have revealed more about their character than about their wealth and power.

Whoever came up with the waiter observation "is bang spot on," says BMW North America President Tom Purves, a native of Scotland, a citizen of the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland, who lives in New York City with his Norwegian wife, Hilde, and works for a German company. That makes him qualified to speak on different cultures, and he says the waiter theory is true everywhere.

The CEO who came up with it, or at least first wrote it down, is Raytheon CEO Bill Swanson. He wrote a booklet of 33 short leadership observations called Swanson's Unwritten Rules of Management. Raytheon has given away 250,000 of the books.

Among those 33 rules is only one that Swanson says never fails: "A person who is nice to you but rude to the waiter, or to others, is not a nice person."

Swanson says he first noticed this in the 1970s when he was eating with a man who became "absolutely obnoxious" to a waiter because the restaurant did not stock a particular wine.

"Watch out for people who have a situational value system, who can turn the charm on and off depending on the status of the person they are interacting with," Swanson writes. "Be especially wary of those who are rude to people perceived to be in subordinate roles."

The Waiter Rule also applies to the way people treat hotel maids, mailroom clerks, bellmen and security guards. Au Bon Pain co-founder Ron Shaich, now CEO of Panera Bread, says he was interviewing a candidate for general counsel in St. Louis. She was "sweet" to Shaich but turned "amazingly rude" to someone cleaning the tables, Shaich says. She didn't get the job.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/usatoday/20060414/...acter&printer=1

[Fandango 1,440]

The CEO who came up with it, or at least first wrote it down, is Raytheon CEO Bill Swanson. He wrote a booklet of 33 short leadership observations called Swanson's Unwritten Rules of Management. Raytheon has given away 250,000 of the books.

Just cos I'm in a bitchy mood, I had to point this out

But I do agree with the article...if they are nasty to anyone in a customer service position, they are nasty people. I worked doing nails for many years & the way some ppl treated me was atrocious!

[Fuzzness 2]

Better treat the waiters well or i'll buy your company and demote you down to janitor!

I have done a lot of business in the past with CEO's and I have to admit, half of them are complete jerks. such is corporate america

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

Just bring me my food and drink the way I ordered it and I'll be happy.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Just bring me my food and drink the way I ordered it and I'll be happy.

And if it isn't exactly how you ordered it, then what do you do?

I tip less. I'm nice but I tip less. One time the waiter fukced up 3 times in a row (on the same order) and I tipped him a penny.

Edited April 17, 2006 by Agent Smith

[Fandango 1,440]

I think as a whole, the more power someone has, the more patience he/she will have with a waiter. If he/she is new to power or only has a limited amount, he/she will be more likely to try to wield that power in inappropriate situations just to feel like a big shot. The whole 'gotta put someone down to feel good about onesself' thing, imo.

[Jenn! 918]

Not exactly on topic, but made me think of it.

Has anyone seen the WB show "Survival of the Richest"? (Please no comments on my love of trash TV!). The way the "rich kids" treat the working class is apalling.

[I'm Gone 60]

What if you always use the drive thru? LOL

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

Just bring me my food and drink the way I ordered it and I'll be happy.

And if it isn't exactly how you ordered it, then what do you do?

I tip less. I'm nice but I tip less. One time the waiter fukced up 3 times in a row (on the same order) and I tipped him a penny.

I tip less or don't return to the place. I have sympathy and don't make their work environment 'hell'. The worst is when they lie. They blame many things on the kitchen.

[almaty 19]

Just bring me my food and drink the way I ordered it and I'll be happy.

And if it isn't exactly how you ordered it, then what do you do?

I tip less. I'm nice but I tip less. One time the waiter fukced up 3 times in a row (on the same order) and I tipped him a penny.

I tip less or don't return to the place. I have sympathy and don't make their work environment 'hell'. The worst is when they lie. They blame many things on the kitchen.

same here..i never go back///

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Just bring me my food and drink the way I ordered it and I'll be happy.

And if it isn't exactly how you ordered it, then what do you do?

I tip less. I'm nice but I tip less. One time the waiter fukced up 3 times in a row (on the same order) and I tipped him a penny.

I tip less or don't return to the place. I have sympathy and don't make their work environment 'hell'. The worst is when they lie. They blame many things on the kitchen.

same here..i never go back///

I go back if the food is good. Service is never exactly the same the next time anyway.

[Traviesa 0]

As a used-to-be server, I must point out the obvious-the server doesn't make OR plate your food, nor can she be expected to remember exactly every specification required. It often is the kitchen's fault.

[Jenn! 918]

As a used-to-be server, I must point out the obvious-the server doesn't make OR plate your food, nor can she be expected to remember exactly every specification required. It often is the kitchen's fault.

I am also a "used-to-be server". Yes, the kitchen is often at-fault. But didn't you work with some pretty bad servers? I know I did. There was one girl who couldn't even open a bottle of wine and I had to go do it for her at her tables whenever any of her customers ordered wine!

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

As a used-to-be server, I must point out the obvious-the server doesn't make OR plate your food, nor can she be expected to remember exactly every specification required. It often is the kitchen's fault.

Of course it is... My biggest peeve is when the server 'forgets' to put the order in and blames the kitchen.

[Traviesa 0]

As a used-to-be server, I must point out the obvious-the server doesn't make OR plate your food, nor can she be expected to remember exactly every specification required. It often is the kitchen's fault.

Of course it is... My biggest peeve is when the server 'forgets' to put the order in and blames the kitchen.

Yes, that does happen from time to time...