[rank_math_breadcrumb]

The invaluable lesson of a leftover pizza

  • Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa

Author:  Paddy Upton

Short Description

The invaluable lesson ‘Exposure’ was one of the significant events that rolled into town with the covid circus. The carpet was pulled back to expose things like pre-existing leadership ineptitude, business weaknesses and relationship flaws. Unhappy employees became unhappier. Unhappy couples separated. Unhappy clients cut ties. The character of political leadership was revealed. Two areas […]

The invaluable lesson ‘Exposure’ was one of the significant events that rolled into town with the covid circus. The carpet was pulled back to expose things like pre-existing leadership ineptitude, business weaknesses and relationship flaws.

Unhappy employees became unhappier.

Unhappy couples separated.

Unhappy clients cut ties.

The character of political leadership was revealed.

Two areas of exposure that resonated most in corporate workshops I’ve been running over the last year, have been ‘employee engagement’, and ‘client service’ (or more accurately client engagement).

Like our health, we know how important these two things are – we need no convincing. If we were to be honest however, many of us have been guilty of paying some level of lip service to these three things.

The invaluable lesson of a leftover pizza

Pre-covid, we may have got away with it. Today, no longer.

As we move through and beyond Covid, most organizations that are not sincere about making BOTH their employees and their clients feel genuinely valued, simply won’t cut it. Many have already suffered irreparable damage.

Having a great product, competitive prices and cutting-edge systems are no longer enough for lasting success. The carpet has been pulled back – how you treat people will be being exposed – and it will count.

Back to that arbitrary picture. I joined mates for a beer and pizza at a local restaurant over the weekend. As the waitress was clearing our table, I asked for a doggy bag and casually explained to my mates how much I enjoy a fried egg on left-over pizza for breakfast.

The next morning I opened my doggy bag to find left-over pizza, PLUS an egg the waitress had added. This simple gesture of one uncooked egg, worth maybe 50cents, was enough to earn Old Town Italy in Constantia (Cape Town) my loyalty, and recommendation.

It begs two questions:

  • What metaphorical egg-gesture can you offer your client, and
  • how can you nurture your employees towards being that waitress?

Contact Us at WeSpeak Global and follow us on Twitter

The articles, video and images embedded on these pages are from various speakers and talent.

These remain the property of its owner and are not affiliated with or endorsed by WeSpeak Global.

Similar to The invaluable lesson of a leftover pizza

You don’t have to be a genius to be a leader of genius! – my earliest challenges were to rebuild a broken Porsche brand and then to inspire the team at BMW GB to achieve a 500% improvement in profit while transforming the service levels of an industry. Since then, Kevin Gaskell has founded start-ups, […]

  • Author: Kevin Gaskell
WS Logo 512

What Makes Good Art? What makes art good? What makes work and business inherently good? To do good work, and create good work is something that we all want to do, right? We also want to be told that we have done something good, created something that people like and want. We want to know […]

  • Author: Pierre du Plessis

Do you have to be a manager or executive to Being A Leader? No! Leading others is a choice. It isn’t about your title. Many people with executive titles are terrible leaders, and many people without a fancy title are outstanding leaders. More than your title, being a leader is about influencing change and inspiring […]

  • Author: Jacob Morgan
WS Logo 512

In the traditional sales world, Engaging and Interactive Meeting, a professional salesperson would prepare for, and focus on, commanding the room, the conversation and the sales process, and you would be prepared to maximise the chances of success at whichever stage of the sale you are because that’s how you win deals for an Interactive […]

  • Author: Shelley Walters
Sterling Hawkins | Predictable Results

Hunting Discomfort Landed TED is critical to preparing a successful TED talk, even more so after you’re accepted. And with how exclusive TED talks are to give, you want to do everything in your power to give a meaningful talk, right? We’ve all heard countless stories about how a TED talk has transformed a company, […]

  • Author: Sterling Hawkins
Richard van Hooijdonk

Growing threat of cybercrime? Not only to individuals but also to businesses of all shapes and sizes, across all sectors and industries. During the pandemic, incidents of cybercrime increased by an astounding 600 per cent. This makes cybercrime the fastest-growing crime in the world and companies and individuals are faced with more cyberattacks than ever […]

  • Author: Richard van Hooijdonk
JJ DiGeronimo

In a recent CIO article (Great IT Leaders Must Have This Trait)  talking about the traits of Successful Women in the technology world, it mentions the importance of being a connector. When you think about it, it doesn’t matter what your industry; being a connector has value in all walks of life. A friend of […]

  • Author: JJ DiGeronimo
WS Logo 512

Think about a baby’s laughter. It is one of the most contagious sounds when heard; you are bound to start smiling and eventually, break out in laughter, too. So, How to influence the workplace by bringing the right energy? Imagine if you could be like the baby’s laughter in your place of work. The one […]

  • Author: Lizette Volkwyn

Our Mission

We are your partner creating memorable and engaging experiences that go beyond the event itself.

© All rights reserved 2025. Created using VOXEL THEME