Anyone interested in innovative ways to manage should head over to Quartz to read a great story about how Chipotle is transforming the way it hires and promotes employees.
“In 2005, the U.S. company underwent a transformation that would make its culture as distinct as its food,” Max Nisen wrote. “As more than 1,000 stores opened across the U.S., the company focused on creating a system where promoting managers from within would create a feedback loop of better, more motivated employees. That year, about 20% of the company’s managers had been promoted from within. Last year, nearly 86% of salaried managers and 96% of hourly managers were the result of internal promotions.”
The best performing stores, in fact, are ones that have managers that have risen up from crews. However, store sales aren’t what gets you a raise or promotion. It’s how well a manager mentors others.
To start off, every Chipotle employee must have these 13 characteristics before being hired:
Conscientious
Respectful
Hospitable
High Energy
Infectiously Enthusiastic
Happy
Presentable
Smart
Polite
Motivated
Ambitious
Curious
Honest
“The idea was to come up with a list of traits you can pick up on in a relatively short meeting,” Nisen wrote. “Inexperienced managers tend to look for the person who can help right away rather than indicators of long term success, [Co-CEO Monty] Moran says.”
Please read the story to learn more about how the company is promoting a culture founded on each employee helping the people around them be better.
Do you have a similar list of traits you look for when hiring employees at your venues? How often do you promote from within? Please share your stories with us in the comments section.
(photo credit: Brian Wilkins via photopin cc)
