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LEADERSHIP IS A PROCESS OF SOCIAL INFLUENCE, WHICH MAXIMISES THE EFFORTS OF OTHERS TOWARDS THE ACHIEVEMENT OF A SHARED GOAL.

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Eat Mor Chickin! A Recipe for Great Leadership


What a great pleasure it is to hear the story of US based fast food company, Chick-fil-A . They are going out of their way to make a difference in the lives of their employees, customers and anyone with whom they come into contact.

It’s a pretty tall order for a fast-food restaurant…but this is clearly a fast-food restaurant like no other!

We Care About You…

The company's President and COO, Dan Cathy begins a speech by saying, “the first thing I want you to know is that we genuinely care about you personally.” This is most likely not what you might expect from a fast-food executive. Instead, you might expect a history of the company, possibly some ups-and-downs, how they prevailed in the end. Well, that is not their story. In fact, their stories relate more to their family and how they value their relationships. Sure, they are a very successful company, but it is clear that their definition of success does not revolve around amassing a financial fortune.

When the leadership team of Chick-fil-A says they care about you, they’re serious. And they’re not just saying it, they’re doing it. Yes, they’re putting their philosophy into action. By saying that they “care,” they are taking action to influence and impact people’s lives in positive ways. The areas that they have identified as most important are: Live, Love and Lead. Here’s what they say about each of these areas

Live

An important indicator of health is your energy level. It ensures you have the ability to do what you want to do, when you want to do it. The key: incorporating healthy habits into your day that will help you maintain the energy level you need to be successful.

To support the “Live” initiative, Chick-fil-A employs a full-time Wellness Director. They have a belief that in order to be the best version of yourself, you have to be “Fit to Lead.”

Love

Our marriages and families are incredibly important to us. But between the hectic pace of our lives and the constant demands on our time, we can risk neglecting what is most to us. The key: slow down and refocus on the significant relationships in your life.

Chick-fil-A was founded by Truett and Jeannette Cathy. Today, they have been married for more than 60 years, and their children, who currently lead Chick-fil-A, have been raised to value marriage and family. They clearly support the belief that happy marriages are the foundation to so many other successes, including business success.

Lead

At Chick-fil-A, they believe leadership is endemic to each of us. We all lead someone or something in our lives. Their leadership training is obviously building the right culture into their staff, refining their skills and teaching them how to provide the best service possible. Cathy shares his audience the basis of that training – it comes from scripture: If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. (Matthew 5:41) From that, they launched their training program, “Making the Second Mile Second Nature.” It is no wonder you get great customer service there! Talk about going above and beyond!

Dan’s Passion

Dan Cathy has been the President and COO of Chick-fil-A since 2001. He spends most of his time on the road, visiting store locations and interacting with his team. He is an engaged and caring leader, whose desire to build into his team is evident in both what he says and does.
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