OPINIONLeadership

Having C-suiters spend time in stores is great—provided they know what's really going on

Restaurant Rewind: Here's how bad things can get when a visiting VIP employee doesn't have a firm grasp on what they've gotten into.

It’s not unusual for a newly hired restaurant-chain executive to spend time in a unit as a line-level employee. Seeing an operation from the perspective of a customer or worker often provides insight and a reality check c-suiters might not get otherwise. In general, being in stores is a great thing for the CEO. 

Except, that is, when they don’t have a clue as to what’s really happening in their restaurants.

This week’s episode of Restaurant Rewind looks at how wrong things can go when an exec doesn’t have a firm grasp on operations, personnel or the conditions of a store. They’re nightmares that I’ve personally witnessed, from rodent sightings to having a renegade employee sounding off about what he or she doesn’t like.

Tune in for a sample of the train wrecks I’ve seen while in-unit with a leader who wants to be one of the team but doesn’t have a credible claim on being so.

Members help make our journalism possible. Become a Restaurant Business member today and unlock exclusive benefits, including unlimited access to all of our content. Sign up here.

Multimedia

Exclusive Content

Financing

The ongoing dangers of third-party delivery

The Bottom Line: The parent company of Tender Greens, which filed for bankruptcy this week, is laying part of the blame on its heavier reliance on delivery orders.

Technology

As restaurant tech consolidates, an ode to the point solution

Tech Check: All-in-one may be all the rage, but there’s value in being a one-trick pony.

Financing

Steak and Ale comes back from the dead, 16 years later

The Bottom Line: Paul Mangiamele has vowed to bring the venerable casual-dining chain back for more than a decade. He finally fulfilled that promise. Here’s a look inside.

Trending

More from our partners