Brandie Rhode’s Post

Consider doing a personal inventory of how you stack up against the Starbucks Experience principles. Consider the following questions: How consistently welcoming am I? What details do I tend to overlook? Where can I offer more surprise or delight in my workplace? In what situations do I embrace resistance, and when do I run from it? What mark am I leaving at work, at home, and in my community? The Starbucks Experience by Joseph A. Michelli

Did you know that Howard Schultz once worked as a barista at Starbucks for two years without a salary? His pregnant wife supported them during this time. Talk about dedication! Some fascinating insights about Starbucks' journey: Originally a coffee bean wholesaler, Starbucks transformed after Schultz's trip to Italy in the early '80s. He was inspired by the human connection in Italian coffee bars. When Schultz bought the company in 1987 for $3.8M, it had just 6 stores and a roastery. Yet it boasted an 80% gross margin, with loyal customers visiting up to 18 times monthly. In 1991, a year before the IPO, Starbucks offered 14% of the company to ALL employees. Those $6 shares? Now worth 800 times more (accounting for splits). Fun fact: No one knows who started the tradition of writing customers' names on cups. From beans to a global phenomenon, Starbucks' story is a testament to vision, perseverance, and valuing both customers and employees.

This morning I was on my way in to a client’s office and stopped for some fuel at Starbucks. I’ve probably had a dozen Starbucks baristas teach me something valuable so kudos to the Starbucks people and culture team for hiring and training some great folks! This particular barista said: “Are you Serena?” “Yes,” I responded “I’m making your matcha right now and I want you to know that I’m making it with love. She then went on to ask what I did for work and exclaimed, “you are a woman in power. You are making a difference in workplaces.” I said, “wow that’s kind of you. And I think you are too. You literally fuel people’s days and ideas. They couldn’t do the work they do, or show up in the ways they do, without you giving them the energy to.” I got so much more than matcha. I got 2 minutes of engaging and motivating dialogue with another human. Messaging I wouldn’t have received if I had done my usual mobile order (run in and out with no interaction). This can never be replaced by AI. 💡This was a reminder to prioritize interaction and engagement over convenience and automation. And that micro affirmations are small things we can do or say to leave big impacts. 💡 #starbucks #training #humanconnection #engagement #hr #peopleandculture

What does Belonging mean to you? When I worked at Starbucks, Belonging was a key ingredient to creating what was referred to as "The Third Place". A space that was not work and was not your home, but was the third place you wanted to be in life. Which at Starbucks was ideally, one of their cafes. What ingredients need to be present in order for you to feel like something is your third place? How can leaders create work environments where people feel like they belong? When someone feels welcomed, known, included, supported and connected, they will be engaged at work and feel that sense of belonging. This positively impacts retention and overall performance. #belonging #retention #connection

A great response by the CEO to lacklustre quarterly results with immediatre action in 3 areas. However, the issues might be much deeper and more significant than the 3 strategic responses are combatting. Maybe dig a bit deeper in understanding potential fundamental issues BEYOND a challenging environment and headwinds. There seems to be a lot more to do to righten the ship.

Did you know I’ve trained over 2900 Starbucks partners? 🤔 Almost no one understands what I do for a living, and for a long time, I actually enjoyed and played into that mystery. But I recently realized that this seemingly harmless charade was actually self-sabotage. Building in dark mode actually hinders our ability to create the vital connections and support we need to thrive. When people understand what we do, why we do it, and who we do it for, they subconsciously start to connect the dots. "Oh, have you ever talked to _____? They were just telling me they needed something like this," or "_____ was just promoted and would love to get behind an idea like this," etc. Innately, people want to be valuable, helpful, and do good (at least in my humble opinion), but if they don’t know what our goals are, how great we are at what we do, and how we can make a difference, we take away that spark from them and end up paying the price. So, let me turn off dark mode and make it simple for the world to understand "what I do"... Our amazing team and I built a custom equipment training & support platform for baristas and managers of Starbucks. Why? Because hundreds of millions, likely billions of dollars are wasted each year with simple technical equipment challenges that can be easily prevented or resolved without a technician with just a little training. It was clear that someone had to step up and create it. With our parent company's nearly 40 years of industry experience, and a 15-year history of servicing Starbucks, it seemed natural for us to take the lead! And there you have it—that's what I do. It feels liberating to finally share this ;) Below is a 30-second video diving a bit deeper into the details. Enjoy! #tobeapartner #trainthetrainer #traininganddevelopment

Discovering Connections Over Coffee: Starbucks' Vision Unveiled In a world that often feels disconnected, there's a place where the simple act of sharing a coffee can spark endless possibilities. Starbucks stands as a beacon for fostering human connection, with a purpose statement that resonates deeply in today's fast-paced society: "We nurture the limitless possibilities of human connection." This vision goes beyond just serving coffee. It's about creating spaces where conversations start, ideas flourish, and communities strengthen. Whether it's a morning pick-me-up, a meeting spot for friends, or a quiet corner for reflection, Starbucks aims to be more than just a coffee shop. It seeks to be a haven for connection, warmth, and belonging. As we navigate through our daily lives, let's take a moment to appreciate the spaces that bring us together. Starbucks reminds us that amidst our busy schedules and digital interactions, the potential for genuine human connection is always within reach. Let's embrace this reminder and make every coffee shared a step towards a more connected world. ☕️💚 #Starbucks #socialnetworking #PurposeInAction

In 1971, in Seattle, a story began that would revolutionize coffee culture. 🌟 Starbucks, originally a coffee bean store, became a global phenomenon thanks to one big idea. It all started when Howard Schultz, a minor employee, amazed by the potential and atmosphere of coffee houses, joined Starbucks. He saw in every coffee house not just a place for coffee, but a 'third place' – a unique space for rest and communication, between home and work. 🌍 Thanks to Schultz's approach to service, Starbucks grew from a modest shop in Seattle to a giant chain of coffee houses and became a symbol of comfort and quality around the world. Every visit to Starbucks is more than just a coffee break; it's an experience that brings people together, no matter where they're from. Although there are no Starbucks coffee houses in Israel, many of you have surely tried their famous coffee while traveling. ☕ 👇 What do you think about Starbucks coffee? Write in the comments about your experience and what you think of the taste and atmosphere.

Q: How did Starbucks get a new CEO? A: It made a cold call... Feeling a sense of urgency in the downward trajectory of the company, the BOD had a guy who made a call... to Brian Niccol the then CEO of Chipotle. If you've seen Chipotle's stock recently, up 400+% since the depths of COVID hell, it would have been easy for Niccol to say, "thank you very much, I'm happy where I am..." He’s successful He’s comfortable He’s in his zone He’s rich Much like you, right? Yet two weeks later he was wearing a new logo shirt, and the press releases were written. SBUX had its new CEO, and its stock jumped 20%, too… Cold calls can be awkward... Personally, I have taken a few of them but I set an expectation: “If you’ve got something better than what I have now, I’m happy to chat. If not, I’m happy to refer…” There is no harm in listening and here is why: 1.     You make a new friend or business relationship 2.     The role may not be right for you, but you can highlight the one that WOULD be 3.    It may be the job of your dreams And, NO!! Taking one of those calls is NOT showing disloyalty to your current employer. Just like the good folks at Starbucks, It is making them too.