Keys To The Shop : Equipping Coffee Shop Leaders

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Bridging the Values-Actions Gap Aug 12, 2020

Show notes

We have a problem. Dreaming up a vision and writing out our list of core values, missions, etc. is an exciting and crucial part of any business. The problem is that most cafes stop there. The list of ideals an noble pursuits never make their way into reality and are soon relegated to only being invoked at staff meetings. So many of the issue we have with toxic work places, burned out staff, and needless turn over stem from the values-actions gap.

Today we are going to discuss this issue and how you can make sure your values are not just nice ideas, but are lived out in the real life of the business.

Interested in consulting & coaching : chris@keystotheshop.com

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233 : A Conversation w/ Anthony Ragler, Black and White Coffee Aug 10, 2020

Show notes

Humility, serving wholesale clients, accessibility, and creating an inclusive community. These are some of the many topics discussed in this fantastic conversation with today's guest, Anthony Ragler! Native of Brooklyn, NY, Anthony Ragler is a coffee professional who combines his craft with his culture and upbringing to cultivate unique and individual experiences for those he encounters. From working as a wholesale manager, to roaster, and technician, Anthony's experiences allows for him to adapt and connect to many different perspectives and people within and outside the supply chain. Anthony is a 2019 Glittercat Barista Bootcamp Cohort member, a 2020 United States Barista Championship finalist, a 2020 Re:Co Symposium Fellow and currently works as the Regional Developer for Black & White Coffee Roasters in Wake Forest, NC. In this conversation we get to explore Anthony's evolution as a coffee professional and hear the lessons and insights he has gained over the years of serving others and working to create community and support diversity. This is definitely ranks up there as being one of my favorite conversations to date. After you listen you will know why. Enjoy! We discuss:

Growing and learning through trials
Serving your customer vs serving yourself
Cultivating community for POC
Learning roasting, wholesale, and support roles
Benefits of competition
Tips for wholesale support and service
Tailoring your approach to the customer
How to know if you did a good job
The demand chain vs the supply chain
Playing favorites

Links:

Anthony's Instagram

Related episodes:

230 : Making room for Community in your Shop 183 : Exploring Diversity w/ Phyllis Johnson Your Customer's Relational Baggage 159 : Addressing Unconscious Bias w/ Lauren Lathrop of Mill City Roasters 133 : 5 Keys to Successful Wholesale w/ Sarah Richmond

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Communicate, Duplicate, Repeat

Tips on Job Descriptions Aug 06, 2020

Show notes

Writing a job description is the first step in getting the right people in the right positions in your shop. They seem pretty straight forward but there are some elements that you need to consider when creating these documents that, if applied, will create a document that is truly a resource that benefits the business and the staff. Today we will cover some of these elements and why they are critical.

Links to related episodes:

Broken Chair

Systems as Care

You need SOPs

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www.coachingforleaders.com

232 : Rebuilding your Staff with Excellence w/ Dave Stachowiak Aug 02, 2020

Show notes

As we seek to rebuild our staff in the midst of the pandemic, many different questions come up about re-hiring, deciding who not to bring back, how to decide who to promote, and generally how do we do this in a way that is good for everyone involved. It is not enamors easy task but today we are going to gain a lot of clarity about these topics and more as we talk with the always insightful, Dave Stachowiak.

Dave founded Coaching for Leaders in 2011. Since them the podcast has been downloaded 12 million times and is consistently ranked as the #1 podcast in business, coaching, and management.

Dave was named in Forbes as one of the 25 Professional Networking Experts to Watch in 2015 and has also been featured in U.S. News & World Report.

He previously served as Senior Vice President with Dale Carnegie of Southern Los Angeles and led training programs for top organizations like the Northrop Grumman Corporation, The United States Air Force, the Boeing Company, and the University of California system.

In our conversation today we will cover:

Why it is an employers market
Making smart hiring decisions
The consequences of poor staff placement
Longterm thinking vs rushed hiring
Assessing readiness
Adjusting our decision mindset
Job Descriptions
Choosing the right person for the role
Immediate steps to take in the right direction

Links:

Dave's past KTTS episodes:

184 : Making Great Business Decisions w/ Dave Stachowiak

025 : Mastering the Art of Training w/ Dave Stachowiak

My past episodes on Dave's show:

How to Lead Part-Time Staff

415: Employee Retention in Small Business, with Chris Deferio

Related episodes:

172 : Why Tracking Performance is a Must!

074 : The Life Changing Power of Good Authority w/ Jonathan Raymond

028 : Why it's Ok to be the Boss w/ Bruce Tulgan : A guide to defining and fighting the under management epidemic in your cafe so you can be the manager your staff need

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https://www.gofundme.com/f/franny-lous-porch-covid-relief

231 : Founder Friday! w/ Blew Kind of Fanny Lou's Porch Jul 31, 2020

Show notes

When is comes to community and serving the neighborhood well through the cafe, you'd be hard pressed to find a better example than Franny Lou's Porch, in Philadelphia, PA.

Blew Kind began her entrepreneurial journey in 2010 with Leotah's Place in North Philly then, moving across the street and renaming it, she established Franny Lou's Porch. All along the way Blew's goals have been to create an inclusive, loving and distinctly human coffee shop experience. With an emphasis on activism, health, and the history, art, and culture of the black community, Franny Lou's Porch has been a dynamic for peace and change.

In today's Founder Friday interview we are going to explore the genesis of Blew's coffee career and also that of her shop and the challenges, lessons, and experiences that she has had seeing this vision into fruition.

This was a fantastic conversation and I hope it inspires you.

We discuss:

Faith in your vision
Setting up a board for accountability
Serving community and co-creating the culture
Starting again after moving locations
Overcoming financial burdens
Experiences of being taken advantage of
Strength of vision but reliance on community
The maternal, non-heirachical business model
Discussing black owned business, wealth generation
What can coffee do to be more accessible and equitable?
Creating a place of humans and love

Links:

www.frannylousporch.org

On Instagram

Related episodes:

230 : Making room for Community in your Shop

139 : Founder Friday w/ Kusanya Cafe co-founder, Phil Sipka

183 : Exploring Diversity w/ Phyllis Johnson

116 : Understanding Gentrification w/ Dr. Stacey Sutton

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Don't fall into FOLO! (Fear of Limited Options) Jul 30, 2020

Show notes

You've heard of FOMO, but what about the insidious FOLO? This is the Fear of Limited Options and is a big mental hurdle that most coffee bars have to leap over. If you want to run a healthy business and not have your menu built on a very shaky foundation then today's episode is for you.

We are going to discuss what is behind FOLO, why you don't need to fall into or follow it, and what to do instead.

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Conversational nature of your business

230 : Making room for Community in your Shop Jul 28, 2020

Show notes

This is going to be a deep dive into some foundational ideas related to your shop and the way it exists in your community. I wasn't planning this episode but I really felt a gut-level urgency about the message.

Thing is, if we want to build something that lasts and is resilient in the face of our resent and future challenges then prioritizing community what we should be doing. Do we we leave room for, or even really consider, the community when we set out to start and run our stores? What are the ramifications of not doing this and what are the benefits of focusing on it?

Today I am sharing some deeper thoughts that tap into the roots of the what and why of our profession and I hope you listen with an open heart.

Some things we will cover:

Your experience-vs-the customer experience
Co-creation and knowing your neighbors
Connecting with and leaving room for community
The relationship between the shop and the customer
Stifling growth and giving up control
The coffee bar as a platform for others
Gentrification and cognitive dissonance
The future of coffee bars and resiliency

139 : Founder Friday w/ Kusanya Cafe co-founder, Phil Sipka

227 : Connecting with Hearts and Minds

181 : Organizational Self-Knowledge

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TED Talk: How to make Stress your Friend by Kelly McGonigal

Don't Stress about Stress Jul 23, 2020

Show notes

There is an abundance of stress to go around right now. I'd say it is likely the most tense and uncertain time I have seen in coffee in my 20 years of working in retail. Stress leads to more stress and as someone who is prone to stress/panic attacks etc I feel this reality all too well.

The question is, since it does not seem to be letting up, what do we do with it?

Today I wanted to briefly chat about not stressing about stress and turning the tables on it to use it to our advantage. Please follow the links below for more helpful resources and to listen to the great talk by Kelly McGonigal that was the inspiration for this Shift Break.

I love you all. You can do it.

Links:

Related Episodes:

095 : Dealing with Stress in the Cafe w/ Wellness Counselor, Joe Sanok

111 : Self Care 101: Taking care of yourself while taking care of others

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