The World’s Best Restaurant in 2022, an award sponsored by S.Pellegrino & Acqua Panna, is Geranium. With its incredible views of the Fælledparken Gardens and a national soccer stadium, this Copenhagen restaurant is known for great food, incredible hospitality, and its ability to change with the times.
Led by co-owners Rasmus Kofoed and Søren Ledet, shown above, Geranium became the first Danish restaurant to win three Michelin stars in 2016. In 2018, they won the Art of Hospitality Award. And finally in 2022, the restaurant reached the pinnacle of its industry by winning award for The World’s Best Restaurant.
First, let me say I can’t believe Moxie Burger, my favorite local burger joint, did not win the award but nonetheless, I feel there are three leadership lessons all leaders, regardless of industry, can learn from this apex organization.
The Leader Is The Embodiment Of The Culture
As a leader, you are the picture of the desired destination for which you wish for others to arrive. Simply put, you cannot take people where you are unwilling to go yourself. In 2017, Kofoed embarked on a meatless diet. In 2022, he did the same for the restaurant. Geranium now serves a menu consistently primarily of local seafood and vegetables from organic and biodynamic farms.
For more on developing a winning culture, read 35 Leadership Quotes from Daniel Coyle’s incredible book The Culture Code: The Secrets Of Highly Successful Groups.
Even The Best Organizations Must Change To Improve And Remain Relevant
Geranium was already a highly-decorated restaurant. However, its owners did not rest on their laurels. They took a potentially huge risk and changed the menu. This is quite astonishing when you think about it. After all, a change of this magnitude could have been the restaurant equivalent of New Coke. But by doing so, the restaurant achieved it greatest results. There are leaders reading this post right now, some who are very successful, who know they need to make hard decisions and change if they want to go to the next level. Perhaps this article can help give them the courage to do so.
For more information on making hard decisions, read The Anatomy of a Hard Decision and a 12-Step Process for How to Make One.
The Power Of Hospitality
While Geranium has a world-class menu, the article made special note of Kofoed’s hospitality. With its beautiful and warm setting, guests are treated like family. Kofoed is a natural people-person and considered a “charming host.” The bar, waiting area, and dining room are open and provide direct access to all aspects of the restaurant including the kitchen. Everything about Geranium is low-manipulation. No wonder the average meal takes over three hours!
In conclusion, if you are ever in Copenhagen, Denmark, make sure you visit the Geranium restaurant. Not only will you have a great meal, you will see leaders who embody the culture, understand change, and build hospitable relationships at the highest level.
And it you can’t make it to Denmark, visit Moxie Burger in Marietta, GA. It might not be the Geranium, but meat is on the menu and you will love the burgers and sweet potato fries!!!
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