Choose Gratefulness
Over 30-years ago, a friend told me a story. I’ve never found a source. A rabbi asked his congregation to go to the worry tree and place every difficulty and worry they had on the branches of the tree. He then asked the people to walk around the worry tree until they find some troubles […]
Principled Decision Making
One of the blessings of my role at Popeyes is the opportunity I have to meet and learn from amazing leaders. This week was exceptional, meeting 10 leaders in four very different businesses: CEO of General Electric, Jeff Immelt; former U.S. President, George W. Bush; CEO, Jim Haudan of Root Inc., a firm that helps […]
Relationship Or Excellence?
In servant leadership, which is more important – a good relationship or the pursuit of excellence? A challenging question. This matter is tested daily in the workplace. Office teams work collaboratively to accomplish goals and relationships are essential to the process. Yet, the business must perform better than the competitors – requiring excellence in strategy, […]
Tell Me The Why
When our toddler children asked us the why question all day long we thought it was charming. It meant they were curious, smart, and exploring the world to learn new things. Then we went to the workplace as adults and things changed. Those people asking why questions all day long became annoying and problematic. Their […]
Leaders Beware
Friday morning I was mentoring four young female leaders. They had asked me to spend an hour with them sharing my experiences and responding to some of the questions that were facing them as leaders. I view this as an honor and a responsibility to mentor the next generation of leaders, and I always learn […]
Leaders Own Their Destiny
The best leaders own their destiny. They make a conscious personal choice to rise above any circumstances they face. They own whatever it takes to achieve the desired outcome. They wait for no one. They blame no one. They are not victims, ever. No industry teaches this lesson better than restaurant franchising. In franchising, the franchisor is accountable for building […]
Assumptions Of The Leader
I challenge you this week to examine the assumptions you make about the people that you lead. I believe that if you assume great things about the people you lead, you will get great things. If you assume the worst, expect to get it. At Popeyes, we run quick service restaurants with 15-30 people working in […]
Leaders Are Teachers
Today I share with you a blog post from Kevin Eikenberry titled Seven Lessons Leaders Can Learn from Great Teachers. I’ve always believed that the best leaders are great teachers. Leaders who explain, demonstrate, gently correct and inspire performance in those entrusted to their care. The teaching leader is no ordinary leader – their love […]
Labor Day Leadership Lessons
Tens of thousands of marchers converged on Washington, D.C. five days ago to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have A Dream” Day in the United States, I reflect on these words. “All labor that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance and should be undertaken with painstaking excellence.” […]
Leaders – Stop, Look & Celebrate
Last week our leadership team toured six new restaurants in Indianapolis. The highlight of the trip was the opportunity to recognize the outstanding contributions of our restaurant team members. We thanked Sherrie for packing orders fast and always smiling for her guests. We admired Jesse for his sense of urgency and his pride in keeping […]