Starbucks is not my jam. More power to you if it’s your thing - but I prefer mom & pop shops (or mom & mom - I definitely don’t discriminate).
However due to a rainstorm and a neighborhood-wide power outage - I found myself trekking out to the burbs in search of wifi one day.
Not a big deal, except that the only coffee shop/cafe/restaurant around where I wouldn’t be seen as a total ass for whipping out my laptop to get shit done was a Starbucks. That and everything else was closed.
I toddled in and let out an audible sigh followed by a low, toddler-like whine.
It was raining out. It was mid-day. The place was PACKED. As I stared at the board of ridiculous sugar-bombs and got ready to order my plain, black coffee, I realized that people were packing up. And leaving. Like a lot of them. Why? The employees.
The employees were hitting the end of their stupidly early morning shift and they were lagging. One of them had put thrash metal on the speakers. Seriously. No apologies. And the shit was loud!
But the employees were laughing, dancing and having a 100% bonding moment. They were in job happiness mode: full on. And I got a seat. The good cushy one!
Do I like thrash metal? Um no. Hard pass. But I do love a place run by happy, fun loving employees. And I like the good chair. Don’t judge me.
What else do I love? Good leaders. And I just met one.
The manager was on break (which may explain the music) but one of the rank and file noticed the mass exodus and asked the other employees if mayyyyybe they should switch the music. They got huffy - she got brilliant. She polled us. The us that hadn’t left.
She asked if we were ok with the music staying on and “pumping up the crew so they could fill us up with caffeine” or if we “preferred the folk music they were supposed to be playing”.
Almost unanimous vote? THRASH ON \m/
So what exactly makes a good leader I hear you asking? Good leaders:
Set goals and standards so that team members understand them
Are approachable, accessible and not assholes
Ask their team for input on their work
In turn, offer constructive criticism when they comment on work
Allow for honesty
Work with people better than them
Are proactive about helping their team out
Take the credit AND the blame
Work with people’s strengths
Don't behave like an (insert expletive of choice here)
So why is it important to be a good leader? Because truly good leaders see career growth on a whole other level. They foster the loyalty and respect of coworkers which leads to being crazy effective on the job and easily recommended for promotions and other opportunities - and that's what we're all about right?
Yours in thrash metal & leadership goodness,
EBS
P.S. Not sure what role you even want to be a leader in? Check out my program Career Change With Confidence. It will help you get clear on just what you’re meant to be doing.
