I am going to make a strong statement but one I believe to be true. Covert Cows and Chick-fil-A: How Faith, Cows, and Chicken Built an Iconic Brand by the company’s former chief marketing officer Steve Robinson has made me smarter and impacted me more personally than any business book I have ever read. It is that good!
You can get copies for everyone in your organization by clicking HERE or on the image provided. Trust me, you will not be disappointed.
Of the many leadership lessons I could highlight I want to select something Steve discusses near the book’s conclusion. These are called Truett Cathy’s 6 Legacy Principles For Leading Chick-fil-A. These are the cultural pillars modeled by its legendary founder which kept the organization and its leaders focused on what made this brand endearing and enduring.
- Being A Good Steward – When it came to stewardship, Truett’s life was a reflection of who he was. Steve writes, “Truett didn’t keep a list of ways to be a good steward. He simply was!”
- Building Long-Term Relationships – Truett thought relationships were for life. He felt if you went to work for Chick-fil-A why would you ever consider working somewhere else. Truett also did not want experience and institutional knowledge leaving the company. As Steve wrote, “The inefficiency of turnover and retraining hurts more than just the botton line.”
- Providing Hospitality – Two of the nicest and most soothing words a person hears are at Chick-fil-A when every employee says, “My pleasure.” The words communicate that we matter.
- Taking Personal Responsibility – Steve wrote, “We were personally accountable to him, to the brand, and to our customers. We were accountable in the deals we created, in the relationships we built in the business, in our behavior on the road, in how we talked about the business, even in our language on the golf course. When he placed his trust in us, we responded with personal accountability.”
- Choosing Personal Influence Over Positional Power – This is the essence of servant leadership. Truett and former company president Jimmy Collins both used to say, “If I ever have to use position power to influence somebody, I’m probably only going to get to do that once. And if I have to do it at all, it probably does not bode well for their future.”
- Having Fun – It is simply better and more productive to work in a fun environment.
Steve concludes the book with the following words – “I considered Truett’s positive influence on others by simply demonstrating how to live an effective Christian life in the context of building a business and a brand. He never preached a sermon other than the life he lived. He loved God, he loved his family, and he loved his neighbor. Out of that love grew a culture that allowed Chick-fil-A – and me personally – to thrive. …Thank you, Truett. Thank you, Lord.”
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