The new CEO of Starbucks brewed coffee for months in different stores around the world to prepare for the position.
Laxman Narasimhan replaced Howard Schultz early as the top executive at the Seattle-born company.
Narasimhan has the idea of continue to work at least four hours a month in the stores and expect the other company leaders to do exactly the same.
Admittedly, CEOs who put themselves in the shoes of their subordinates are a rare breed in today’s business world. However, there are a few examples of leaders who sought to engage with the daily work of employees in order to understand the heart of the business they run.
There are studies that support it. A 2022 Harvard Business Review investigation says that CEOs who have risen through the ranks and who have experience in different areas of the company are more successful in their roles.
This is because they have a better understanding of how the company operates at all levels, as they are able to communicate more effectively with their employees and make informed decisions.
An example of a CEO who had contact with his lower-ranking employees was Microsoft’s Satya Nadella.
Nadella started out as an engineer at Microsoft and worked his way up to the top. Thanks to that, he understands the technical aspects of the firm’s products and services.
Today, Nadella meets regularly with employees at all levels and encourages an open dialogue.
Another example is Jeff Bezos, the former CEO of Amazon, who started out in the firm’s warehouse packing boxes. He once said, “I’m still emailing, I’m still doing customer service, I’m still doing product reviews. It’s not that I do it as my main job, but I like to find time to do it.”
The new CEO of Starbucks and his barista certificate
On the other hand, according to published Wall Street Journal this Thursday, March 23, Narasimhan’s decision to remain in regular contact with outgoing CEO Howard Schultz.
Narasimhan, who officially took over as CEO on March 20, was, among other things, an executive at PepsiCo Inc.
Having worked alongside the employees he now leads, Narasimhan said Starbucks has “too many cup and lid combinations” and that everyone needs to be “more disciplined.”
Total, Narasimhan had 40 hours of training to become a certified barista.
After leaving PepsiCo, Narasimhan served as CEO of the UK-based Reckitt Benckiser Group.
As the firm said in the publication of financial results, the company is willing to invest billions of dollars in the next three years to improve the appearance of its stores and the employment situation of employees.
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