Respect From Managers Fuels a Star Employee’s Career
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After working at a few restaurant jobs in his teens, Josh McCall decided he’d had enough of the industry. He didn’t feel appreciated and disliked managers’ obvious lack of respect for lower-ranking employees. That was 33 years ago. Today, McCall is a partner in the iServ Group, one of the largest Sonny’s BBQ restaurant franchisees with nearly 30 locations. What motivated McCall’s turnaround? At age 18, with plans to join the Air Force, McCall says he took what he thought would be one last restaurant job at a Sonny’s BBQ. There, for the first time, he says he was made to feel welcomed and valued. Managers at Sonny’s clearly cared about their people and set high expectations for them. He decided to stick around and rose through the ranks as a dishwasher, kitchen manager, assistant manager, general manager, and area director, winding up with a lifelong career as a restaurant franchisee. In an era of lavish employee perks and benefits, it’s easy to assume that motivating employees costs a lot of money. However, research shows that one of the most effective motivators doesn’t cost anything at all. Showing respect for employees is the most essential leadership behavior for instilling loyalty and aiding retention, according to a Georgetown University survey of 20,000 employees. But many managers don’t understand how to do so. Instead, their disregard for the rank and file shows up as micromanaging, incivility, and a sense among employees that management sees them as interchangeable or just a number — a perception McCall says was common among employees at his earliest restaurant jobs. At Sonny’s BBQ, management makes a deliberate effort to show respect. The company cultivates a family-like culture and fosters mutual support among employees. McCall was provided many good mentors and promotion opportunities as he rose through the ranks, and Sonny’s BBQ continues to offer employees training and advancement opportunities, encouraging them to “become the best that they can be,” the company says. It is also one of the few companies to appoint a Chief Kindness Officer to advance its community-support initiatives, disaster relief programs, and targeted
PUFF PASTRY BERRY HEARTS
Inspired by Weelicious.com
Valentine’s Day means heart-shaped everything, even desserts! Bake these puff pastry berry hearts for Valentine’s Day or any other day.
Ingredients: •
1 package frozen puff pastry, defrosted 1 cup heavy cream 1 tsp powdered sugar
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1/2 cup fresh raspberries (or berries of your choice)
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employee training, including a “dining with dementia” campaign to show staffers how to deal kindly with elderly customers. McCall points to the company’s culture as a significant reason for its success.
Directions: 1. Preheat oven to 400 F. Unfold the puff pastry and use a heart-shaped cookie cutter to cut into heart shapes. 2. On a baking sheet, place puff pastry hearts and bake for 10–12 minutes or until golden brown. 3. In a standing mixer, whip the cream on medium-high speed for 2–3 minutes. Add the powdered sugar and beat on high for 30 more seconds or until thick and fluffy. 4. Remove hearts from the oven and allow to cool completely. Slice each heart in half between pastry layers to create 2 hearts. Top the bottom half with whipped cream and berries, and place the other half on top to form a sandwich.
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