Athens Chick-fil-A

Last week, Operator Shane Todd led our Propel Leadership Development Program Leaders in an insightful discussion on "Acting Wisely." Shane emphasized the important distinction between intelligence and wisdom. While intelligence is characterized by an abundance of knowledge, wisdom is about exercising sound judgment based on experience. When asked for strategies to cultivate wisdom, Shane advised our leaders to pause before making decisions or engaging in important conversations. He recommended they ask themselves, "What is the end goal?" This reflective practice encourages clarity and promotes more thoughtful and effective outcomes.

We're incredibly grateful to Mark Rockett for joining our leadership team last week! A long-time friend of our organization, Mark is a UGA graduate and former business consultant who currently serves as the Northeast Region Director for Existing Restaurants Real Estate at Chick-fil-A Corporate Support Center. During his time with us, Mark shared his Chick-fil-A story, emphasizing the vital role of real estate in our industry and the importance of maintaining a growth mindset in every position. His insights inspired us to be proactive in combating complacency and to make the most of our time at Athens Chick-fil-A. We loved having you, Mark! Come back soon.

Communications expert from See.Spark.Go, Kaci Pollack joined our leadership team to discuss the importance of effective interpersonal communication in the workplace. She shared five key strategies to enhance communication skills: Communicate Care: Establish strong communication by setting clear expectations, being proactive, and adopting an "excellence over perfection" mindset. Stay Positive and Solutions-Oriented: Tackle challenges with potential solutions in mind, maintain unity with your leadership team, and evaluate whether issues are problems to solve or tension to manage. Master the Art of Receiving Feedback: Embrace a growth mindset, be open to coaching, and actively seek feedback from your team. Become Proficient in Giving Feedback: Engage in "champion and challenge" conversations, know your team members, and be FOR the other person. Practice Active Listening: Be fully present in conversations, listen to understand, and validate the perspectives of others. Our leaders learned so much from Kaci and are grateful for her time with us!

This week at Athens Chick-fil-A, operator Shane Todd hosted our highly anticipated annual "Starting Point" meeting for Team Members. Each semester, Shane takes this opportunity to share his personal Chick-fil-A story and the incredible growth and development opportunities available at Athens Chick-fil-A. During the meeting, he engaged our Team Members with insights into leadership pathways, balancing work and family life, and navigating the challenges of risky business decisions.

The Chick-fil-A Corporate Support Center recently brought together 200 Operators and 800 Talent Directors in Atlanta for an enriching event focused on connecting, learning from industry leaders, and drawing inspiration to continue making Chick-fil-A "Frontline's Favorite Place to Work." In one standout session, Chief Marketing Officer Jon Bridges emphasized the importance of prioritizing Team Member Engagement to foster a culture of care. He illustrated how positive engagement not only boosts retention but also enhances the customer experience, ultimately leading to greater overall customer satisfaction. As he succinctly put it, “Cared-for people, care for people.” Jon outlined key drivers for enhancing Team Member Engagement: Empowerment: Trusting your team to make decisions. Development: Understanding your team’s goals and providing support to achieve them. Equipment: Ensuring your team has the necessary tools and resources to succeed. Recognition: Knowing and acknowledging each team member by name. Staffing: Hiring leaders who inspire and positively influence their teams.

In a recent development session with Athens Chick-fil-A Leaders, Operator Shane Todd emphasizes that he doesn’t see difficulties as obstacles but as integral parts of life. Rather than seeking out the easy path, he advocates for mastering the art of “doing hard well.” He also highlights the importance of understanding your “why” when confronted with challenges. By starting with a clear vision or goal, you create a powerful motivator that propels you toward the finish line. Moreover, maintaining a vision of the person you aspire to be helps you stay steady during tough times. The "Be, Do, Have" model supports this idea: begin by embodying the person you wish to become, which will naturally lead you to adopt the necessary habits, and ultimately, achieve your desired outcomes. Having a clear vision for yourself and your organization fosters intention, providing a solid foundation to rely on when facing difficulties.

Operator Shane Todd led our Propel Leadership Development Program Leaders through a discussion on how to Lead Humbly last week. These leaders described Leading Humbly as celebrating the wins of others, being willing to do what you ask of the team, and not thinking less of yourself but thinking of yourself less. Patrick Lencioni describes humility in his book, "The Ideal Team Player", as: -A lack of excessive ego or concerns about status -Quick to share credit, praise others freely, and sometimes forgo credit due to them in the interest of celebrating the team’s collective win -Strong alignment towards the team's goal and prioritizing team goals over individual ones -Self-confident, but not arrogant How would you describe Lead Humbly?

In a development meeting led by our Assistant General Manager of Chick-fil-A Beechwood, Cierra Norman shared a concept she learned from Liz Wiseman's book Multipliers: There is a significant difference between leadership and management. While management is an assigned role which controls a group, leadership is a voluntary role that influences and motivates those around them. In order to establish leadership, there are three components that distinguish a leader from a manager. 1. Self Awareness: Understanding how to lead yourself and set the tone for those around you. This includes being able to check in with yourself, evaluate your blind spots, hold yourself accountable, and create an effective system for executing goals. 2. Team Awareness: Knowing your team on a personal level, including their strengths and weaknesses. This could look like getting to know your team through asking questions or checking in with your team through champion/challenge conversations. 3. Environmental Awareness: Understanding when, where, and how to lead your team. When making decisions, it is crucial to evaluate the environment in the moment and how it will affect your decision. Which of these awarenesses is your strength and which is there opportunity for you to grow in?

Our leaders recently attended a Working Genius workshop hosted by Professional Development Coach Mary Ashley Baker, CPC. In these workshops, Mary Ashley led our team through the The Six Types of Working Genius, which are the six steps required to complete any job. Our leaders discovered their Working Geniuses, Working Competencies, and Working Frustrations-- learning what types of work energize them and what types of work exhaust them. When we know what type of work gives us joy and energy and which type of work frustrates us (as well as the Geniuses and Frustrations of others on our team), we can be more productive, effective, and fulfilled in our work!

Making decisions is a crucial part of running a business. When faced with tough decisions or quick decisions, how an organization responds will determine its growth and success. When asked how he makes tough decisions, Operator Shane Todd explains that tough decisions are not simply deciding to do something that is difficult, but are deciding between good and great. In order to be great, we must first view the decision through the filter of our mission, then take the risk of a strategic bet. When faced with quick decisions, it's important to understand the risk. Consider the worst that could happen and what our course of action would be in order to be prepared. While we always aim to give our best, Shane emphasizes that we are bound to make mistakes. When this happens (not if), he encourages us to "own it, apologize, and rally the troops" in order to learn from our mistakes and move forward.