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Jamie Oliver lifts the lid on leadership skills

Video Arts has launched two new training programmes on teamwork and leadership based on the hit TV series Jamie’s Kitchen.

Jamie’s Kitchen: Fifteen lessons on leadership and teamwork supports the idea that leadership isn’t a position – it’s an activity. It uses a real life, tough, situation to demonstrate how a clear vision, determination, enthusiasm and the right attitude can inspire and motivate others to get the best out of themselves, take responsibility and achieve their goals - essentially what every leader wants from their team.

The two programmes are based on the popular Channel 4 series that showed how Jamie Oliver transformed a group of unemployed young people into an efficient, organised team, capable of running the busy London restaurant, Fifteen.

Jamie Oliver, commenting on the project, said: "The biggest lesson I learnt was that each individual needs a different approach. Some learn quickly and others need a bit more time to grasp things. Some will take to one role happily while others might have to be given a little nudge. Spending time to nurture each trainee's talent is always important."

Martin Addison, Director of Video Arts, said: "Jamie’s Kitchen: Fifteen lessons on leadership and teamwork takes a fresh approach to training that is totally inclusive and relates to people regardless of their position within a team. It makes compelling viewing as it charts the emotional highs and lows of what was a very ambitious project but above all it emphasises the importance of personal contribution and motivates people to achieve their full potential.

"Organisations are already aware that leadership and teamwork skills are key to their success. Their challenge is finding a way to change the behaviour of enough people to achieve critical mass and make a real difference. We believe that the broad appeal of Jamie’s Kitchen: Fifteen lessons on leadership and teamwork will result in better leaders and better teams, which can only mean more effective organisations overall."

Fifteen lessons on leadership

Fifteen lessons on leadership covers five key learning points:

• Lead the way – Jamie ensures that everyone who works for him is clear about what is expected of them. He also communicates his clear vision of where he wants the project to go.
• Show them how – Jamie is a very visible leader, and sets a great example to his team. This means handling the unpleasant jobs as well as the pleasant ones.
• Believe in them – Jamie shows total belief in his team, and is not afraid to delegate. He has a positive approach to coaching individuals, always looking for things to praise. Even when the team mess up, he tells them that they can and will get it right.
• Deal with it – Jamie demonstrates massive responsibility throughout the project, personally, professionally and financially. He understands that he – and no-one else – will carry the can if things go wrong.
• Learn and adapt – Jamie learns continually throughout the project. If one way of tackling a problem doesn’t work, he tries another.

Fifteen lessons on teamwork

Fifteen lessons on teamwork covers four easy-to-remember learning points:

• Get it straight - The team members are put together for the first time, and the goals and expectations of the team have to be clearly established.
• Get on board - Individual strengths and weaknesses start to emerge as team members work out how to support each other. Individual wants and needs have to take second place to what the team needs.
• Get stuck in - The team has to work out how to resolve conflict and solve problems, as well as dealing with practicalities such as how tasks are shared out.
• Get better - The question for the team now is: Are we learning all the time, not just from the good things but also from our mistakes? The team must also keep striving to achieve more, both individually and together.

Jamie’s Kitchen: Fifteen lessons on leadership and teamwork is available on DVD and video. Each 25 minute programme comes with a range of support materials, including a guide for the course leader, a self-study workbook, customisable worksheets, presentation slides, handouts and a poster of key learning points. Purchase prices start at £895 each.

External links

A portion of the proceeds will go to Cheeky Chops, the charity that Jamie Oliver set up to train and mentor unemployed youngsters. For more details go to www.cheekychops.org

For more information on Video Arts and its programmes visit: www.videoarts.com

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