Today we’re sharing insight from guest blogger Scott Franko, President of Franko Design Concepts and Consulting. We hope you enjoy Scott’s wisdom and perspective.
Dan Cathy is the Chairman, President, and CEO of the giant retail fast-food chain Chick-fil-A. Over the years, he developed a unique leadership program he named The Leadership Toolbox. This program allows him to present his views and share best practices for leadership.
One of the specific tools within The Leadership Toolbox is a pair of ear plugs. The point of the ear plugs is to learn and be reminded that a leader must rise up above the noise at times in order to get the long-range, broader view or perspective which provides overall vision.
"If your ears aren't popping," says Mr. Cathy, "then you haven't gone far enough up."
When the wisdom sinks in, Dan quickly follows up with more pearls for thought and challenge: "That's not where a good leader stays though. He or she also needs to engage from the floor level and interact where the action takes place. That's where you see, learn, and observe the needs of the day. That's where the hands get dirty. Between the ears and the hands there's a balance to be achieved."
Did you catch that? In his unique way, Mr. Cathy is telling us that effective leaders must use their brains as well as their hands…but in the right ways, at the right times. Working smart, not just hard.
We've all heard that before. When it comes to leadership, the intelligent use the old noggin. It involves the willful ability to pull back from where the real work is taking place in order to observe what's happening under the nose and to see a clear path for the organization's future.
For Dan, the family-owned fast-food chicken business has grown from its roots to become one of the nation's largest and most successful retail quick-service food chains. It all started when Truett Cathy opened that first tiny eatery, The Dwarf Grill. That's where his hands got dirty. His achievements then came over time and through hard work, as well as taking the time to learn lessons and apply what he learned as a leader.
From the top floors of the corporate office to the floors of the restaurants, the leaders at Chick-fil-A know the value of getting their hands dirty and when to put the ear plugs in.
Sometimes a leader rises from the ground floor and out of the trenches. But it’s on the floors and trenches that a good leader can often connect with people on the team in the most meaningful way.
What’s The Risk?
If your hands don't get dirty, you'll be a disconnected leader. If you tend to stay in the action or around the noise too much or for too long, you are missing the questions, answers, trends, problems, and solutions that show themselves when viewing from fifty thousand miles up.
Get your hands dirty, especially if it has been awhile. If you've been in the trenches for too long, it might be time to back off, put the ear plugs in, and get up to a high enough place where you can actually see the big picture.
This content was written and shared by guest blogger, Scott Franko.
Scott is the President of Franko Design Concepts and Consulting for "brand and image." Fresh out of college with his graphic design degree from Ball State University, he went to work at custom sign maker US Signcrafters, becoming president in 1997 and an owner in 2006 where he remains today. Under his leadership the company launched the additional divisions of The Sign Store for print production and Building Impressions for ornamental architectural fabrication. Together the companies combine as a full-scale resource for creative visual solutions.
To date he has authored and published five books including "Lessons from a Pair of Old Gloves" that was recognized with an Honorable Mention by Writers Digest. His nationally popular weekly blog is called Pay Notes; "pay-day" notes for thought, consideration and inspiration. He can be reached at scott@frankodesign.com.
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