FORBES – David Novak, CEO of Yum! Brands, emphasizes continuous learning as essential for leadership. He advocates uncovering truth through data, embracing diverse perspectives, and learning from failures. Novak stresses asking insightful questions and fostering trust to create a culture of innovation and personal growth.
Shopify founder Tobi Lütke introduced the German word “Verschlimmbesserung,” meaning “worsening improvement.” This concept warns leaders against making changes without fully understanding existing systems. Lütke emphasizes the importance of recognizing why things are the way they are before attempting improvements, helping mid-sized companies avoid unintended negative consequences when competing with larger rivals.
This thought experiment, introduced by G.K. Chesterton, illustrates the dangers of removing seemingly useless elements without understanding their purpose. In the story, removing a fence between cows and sheep led to hungry cows. This concept teaches leaders to thoroughly investigate existing structures before making changes, preventing potential harm to their organization when innovating to compete with larger companies.
1. Brian Niccol noticed that Chipotle restaurants were often running out of key items like chips and chicken after reopening from the pandemic. He addressed this by demanding a return to high standards, emphasizing that a Mexican restaurant should never run out of chips, and pushed his team to quickly fix the issue.
2. Niccol listened to feedback from Chipotle workers and discovered they were using a makeshift solution to offer larger portions of guacamole. He immediately added the right buttons to the cashier terminals and provided proper containers, making the process more efficient and satisfying customers’ needs.
Lemonlight’s “Working with Our Leaders” resource: The company created a manual for each leader, outlining their work preferences and leadership style. This unique approach helps team members understand how to collaborate effectively with different leaders, improving communication and productivity in a way rarely seen in traditional companies.
Claire Hughes Johnson’s leadership manual at Stripe: As former COO, Johnson introduced the concept of personal work manuals at Stripe. This innovative practice helped clarify expectations, streamline collaboration, and foster a culture of transparency, setting Stripe apart in the competitive tech industry.