Episode 71: Creating Change that Sticks with Former Starbucks President Mike Hudspeth

Have you ever felt stalemated in your business? You know things have plateaued. You know things have to change. Perhaps you’ve tried to implement different workflows and improvements in the past and there just wasn’t buy-in from your team to truly implement the changes. Today we are speaking with Former Starbucks President Mike Hudspeth. Mike has a long history of leadership in the restaurant industry including Applebee's, Chili’s Global, and Starbucks. He is an expert at orchestrating change that is both timely for the season the business is at and implementing the changes into the workplace. So sit back, grab that cup of coffee and let's dive into today’s episode!

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3 Key Takeaways

1. Study your business to glean important insights to where it sits in its lifecycle.
2. You have to understand the why behind each change you want to implement and whether or not it truly has legitimacy.
3. If you expect to be the catalyst of change, it has to start in your own personal life.

Show Notes

3 important milestones that marked Mike’s career in the restaurant and dining industry. 

• Like many college students, Mike started working in the casual dining industry as a server as a flexible way to earn cash during school.
• During his time in school, however, Mike realized that he could make his career in the restaurant industry.
• Mike started at the bottom with Apple Bees and worked his way up into key leadership roles corporately. 
• After 15 years with Apple Bees Mike then pivoted into his role as President of Starbucks in Central Europe.
• Then as VP and COO for Chili’s Global Mike helped take the company to double-digit growth securing their steady growth up through 2023.

"I didn’t choose the restaurant industry, the restaurant industry chose me." - Mike Hudspeth

3 keys to effectively and efficiently embarking on change as a leader in your company.

• 1. Recognize what the learning challenge in your company is and who are the decision-makers and influencers. 
• 2. Diagnose and assess how the company culture adjusts and responds to change. 
• 3. Orchestrate a 90-day plan to effectively hit the ground running and implement changes.  

"The reason we should care about these things is that it limits derailment and allows the new leadership to hit the ground running." - Mike Hudspeth

The importance of understanding where a business is at before orchestrating change.

• You have to understand the framework and lifecycle of each business. Where in the lifecycle is the business you are working in?
• As an entrepreneur, you need to be understanding each segment of the business so that you can actually move forward in the right direction.
• If you jump the gun and start implementing change before you truly understand the framework of the business you may venture in the wrong direction.

"We need to learn how to collect the dots before we connect the dots." - Mike Hudspeth

 Understanding the important phases of the business lifecycle from the Stars Framework.

• The startup phase, characterized by extremely accelerated business growth.
• Once you have reached that steady and busy peak you are in the sustaining phase where you must sustain the business and continue to move forward.
• As you move past the curve, you have to realign the company to its roots that made them special or unique in the first place. 

Four crucial questions that must be answered with any change being implemented.

• Why is the change needed and what problem is it solving?
• What parts of the company need to be involved and adapted to the change?
• Who in leadership roles needs to buy into the change enough to really implement the change in their teams?
• How do you plan the execution of the change and how will that be communicated?

 "When implementing workflow change it’s critical that you bring your people along every step of the way." - Mike Hudspeth

Mike’s family follows a specific set of values based on the teachings of Jesus.

• The love of God and the people around us.
• Faithfulness in marriage to your spouse.
• Rejection of worldly goods and ideals.
• Rejection of revenge against others.
• Practicing unconditional love with others.

"The best way to implement anything is to not just talk about it but to put it on paper so that it sticks with people." - Mike Hudspeth

 Takeaways from Mike’s daily routine.

• Rise early and plan out your day to get your head on straight. 
• Plan out and shape what your goals look like for the week and how to best accomplish each task.
• Prioritize a business mindset of sales, process, and workflow and then relationships and culture. 

Resources For You: 

• To learn more about The Stars Framework by IMD click here!
• If you need help building (or selling) a valuable business, reach out to Cathedral Consulting at [email protected]
• Questions for Seth? Send us your feedback at [email protected]
• Pick up your copy of Ambition: Leading With Gratitude