El liderazgo según Henry Ford

MENTES EXPERTAS

29 Aug 202301:37

Summary

TLDRThe story shares an anecdote about Henry Ford, who dined with two candidates for a director position at his company. Despite similar academic achievements, Ford hired one and not the other. When asked why, Ford explained that the hired candidate tasted his food before adding salt, unlike the other. More importantly, the chosen candidate was polite to the restaurant staff, showing respect to everyone, not just Ford. Ford emphasized that a great leader must see and value all people, not just those in positions of power.

Takeaways

🍽️ Henry Ford once invited the final two candidates for a dinner interview to decide who would join his company.
🎓 Both candidates had similar qualifications, having graduated from the same university with brilliant grades.
🤔 After the dinner, Ford informed one candidate that he was hired and the other that he wasn't selected, which surprised the rejected candidate.
❓ The rejected candidate asked Ford why he was not chosen, despite their conversation not involving engineering or relevant qualifications.
🧂 Ford explained that one reason was the hired candidate tasted his food before adding salt, while the rejected candidate added salt before tasting it.
💡 Ford valued people who assess situations before making changes, like tasting food before altering it.
🙏 The second and more important reason was that the hired candidate was polite and respectful to the waiters, using 'please' and 'thank you.'
🙈 Ford noticed that the rejected candidate only showed politeness to him and ignored the waiters, treating them as invisible.
🌟 Ford wanted a leader in his organization who could see and respect all people, regardless of their role in the hierarchy.
🔑 This story emphasizes the importance of small actions and manners in leadership and decision-making.

Q & A

What was the purpose of Henry Ford dining with the two candidates?
-Henry Ford dined with the two candidates to evaluate them for a management position at his company, Ford.
What qualifications did the two candidates share?
-Both candidates had graduated from the same university with similar, excellent grades, and were described as geniuses.
Why did Henry Ford hire one candidate and not the other?
-Ford hired one candidate because he demonstrated two qualities: he tasted his food before adding salt, showing thoughtful decision-making, and he was polite and respectful to the waitstaff, demonstrating his ability to see and treat everyone with respect, not just those in positions of authority.
What did the rejected candidate ask Ford after learning he wasn't hired?
-The rejected candidate asked why he wasn’t chosen, especially since the dinner conversation didn’t involve engineering, cars, or their academic backgrounds.
How did Henry Ford respond to the rejected candidate's question?
-Ford explained that the decision was based on two key observations: the candidate’s friend tasted his food before adding salt, while the rejected candidate added salt without tasting; and the friend was polite to the waiters, while the rejected candidate only directed his politeness toward Ford.
What did the act of tasting food before adding salt signify to Ford?
-It signified that the hired candidate was thoughtful and careful, preferring to experience something before making changes, an important quality for leadership.
Why did Ford emphasize politeness toward the waitstaff?
-Ford valued leaders who can see and treat all people respectfully, not just those in positions of power. The ability to recognize and be courteous to everyone, regardless of status, was crucial to him.
What leadership qualities did Ford look for based on this story?
-Ford valued leaders who were thoughtful, cautious about making decisions, and who respected and acknowledged everyone, regardless of their position in a hierarchy.
How did the rejected candidate fail to meet Ford’s expectations?
-The rejected candidate showed a tendency to act impulsively (adding salt before tasting) and only demonstrated respect toward Ford, ignoring the waitstaff, which indicated a hierarchical mindset.
What lesson about leadership does this story convey?
-The story conveys that great leaders are thoughtful in their actions and show respect to everyone, regardless of their position. Leadership is about more than technical knowledge—it’s about interpersonal awareness and considerate decision-making.

Outlines

00:00

🍽️ A Dinner with a Lesson

The story begins with Henry Ford, the founder of Ford Motor Company, hosting a dinner with two final candidates for a managerial position at his company. Both were brilliant graduates from the same university, with outstanding academic achievements. After dinner, Ford made his decision, hiring one candidate while politely rejecting the other. Surprised by the decision, the rejected candidate questioned Ford, asking why he wasn’t chosen, as the dinner conversation hadn't focused on their technical skills or education.

🧂 The Salt Test

Ford revealed two primary reasons for his choice. First, the hired candidate tasted his food before adding salt, while the other added salt without tasting it first. Ford appreciated those who assess a situation before making changes. This subtle act indicated a thoughtful and deliberate approach to decision-making.

🤝 Respect and Courtesy Matter

The second, and more important reason, was how the chosen candidate treated the restaurant staff. He was polite, using 'please' and 'thank you' when interacting with the waiters. In contrast, the rejected candidate treated the waiters as invisible and only showed politeness when speaking to Ford. Ford explained that a true leader must be able to see and respect all people, not just those in positions of power. This demonstrated the candidate’s ability to lead with humility and respect for everyone, regardless of hierarchy.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Henry Ford

Henry Ford, the founder of the Ford Motor Company, is central to the story. In this video, he is portrayed as a leader who values not only technical knowledge but also personal qualities such as observation and respect for others. His approach to selecting a candidate highlights his focus on the non-technical aspects of leadership.

💡Dinner

The dinner represents a setting where Ford observed the behavior of the two candidates. Although it seems like a casual meeting, it was actually a test of character. The dinner is symbolic of how leaders often assess candidates in informal situations to evaluate qualities that go beyond technical skills.

💡Engineering

Engineering is mentioned by the candidate who questions why Ford did not discuss technical subjects during the dinner. This highlights the contrast between what the candidate expected (a technical evaluation) and Ford’s focus on personal traits. It underscores the idea that, for Ford, technical expertise alone wasn’t enough to make someone a good leader.

💡Salt

The act of adding salt before or after tasting food serves as a metaphor for decision-making. Ford uses this to illustrate how one candidate was willing to experience something before altering it, showing patience and open-mindedness. This detail is used to contrast two approaches to making changes and decisions.

💡Politeness

Politeness, as exemplified by one candidate's courteous interaction with the waiters, plays a crucial role in Ford’s decision. It shows Ford’s belief that true leadership requires not only respect for authority but also respect for every person, regardless of their role. This interaction demonstrates how small gestures can reveal deeper character traits.

💡Camareros (Waiters)

The waiters symbolize the invisible, everyday people whose presence and service can often go unnoticed. Ford’s observation of how the candidates treated the waiters highlights his view that leadership involves recognizing and valuing all individuals, not just those in positions of power.

💡Hierarchía (Hierarchy)

Hierarchy is a key concept when Ford critiques one of the candidates for only being polite to him, the figure of authority, but ignoring the waiters. This represents Ford’s view that a true leader must see beyond hierarchies and treat everyone with respect, regardless of their status or rank.

💡Leadership

Leadership is the overarching theme of the video. Ford’s criteria for selecting a leader are based on character, decision-making, and how one treats others. His definition of leadership extends beyond technical skills to include empathy, humility, and the ability to see people as individuals.

💡Respect

Respect, particularly toward those who may not be in positions of power, is a central concept. Ford values candidates who show respect not just to him but to everyone around them, indicating that he believes leadership requires an innate sense of equality and recognition of others’ contributions.

💡Observation

Observation is a subtle but important concept in the video. Ford is not just observing the candidates' words, but their actions and how they handle small details like tasting food or interacting with waiters. It underscores his leadership philosophy: that seemingly trivial behaviors can reveal important truths about a person’s character.

Highlights

Henry Ford dined with two candidates for a director position at his company.

Both candidates had graduated from the same university with brilliant academic records.

Ford hired one candidate after the dinner and declined the other, despite the conversation not involving cars or engineering.

The rejected candidate asked Ford why he was not selected.

Ford gave two reasons for his decision.

The first reason was that the hired candidate tasted his food before adding salt, whereas the rejected candidate added salt before tasting.

Ford appreciated people who tested things before making changes.

The second and more important reason was based on how each candidate treated the restaurant staff.

The hired candidate was polite and respectful to the waiters, saying 'please' and 'thank you'.

In contrast, the rejected candidate ignored the waiters and only showed politeness when speaking to Ford.

Ford emphasized that a good leader must be able to see and respect people, not just focus on hierarchy.

The story illustrates the importance of humility and awareness in leadership.

Ford valued character traits like consideration and respect over technical skills in this case.

The story serves as a lesson in leadership and the importance of small actions in making a strong impression.

Ford’s decision-making process highlighted the significance of personal conduct in professional settings.