Leadership Lessons from Starbucks

Howard Schultz, the return-CEO of Starbucks, tells a remarkable story about he and his team turned around the company over the past few years. In his book, “Onward: How Starbucks Fought for Its Life Without Losing Its Soul,” Schultz identifies the leadership keys to the transformation of his company. These attributes can apply to any firm, and I am trying to learn and apply these in my life and with my company. They are:

1. Grow with discipline.
2. Balance intuition with rigor.
3. Innovate around the core.
4. Don’t embrace the status quo.
5. Find new ways to see.
6. Never expect a silver bullet.
7. Get your hands dirty.
8. Listen with empathy and overcommunicate with transparency.
9. Tell your story, refusing to let others define you.
10. Use authentic experiences to inspire.
11. Stick to your values; they are your foundation.
12. Hold people accountable but give them tools to succeed.
13. Make the tough choices; it’s how you execute that counts.
14. Be decisive in times of crisis.
15. Be nimble.
16. Find truths in crisis and lessons in mistakes.
17. Be responsible for what you see, hear and do.
18. Believe

I look forward to your comments. Thanks! Brett Blair – Sanford Rose Associates, Brighton - Executive Search. Specialists in the placement of professionals in the automotive manufacturing world.