Maria Cleaveland is a master of management, leadership, and organizational systems and process. She has spent over 30 years in hospitality leadership, the last 17 of which have spent in leading the charge in specialty coffee. Her journey has been one of taking on challenges and a wide variety of high level roles that shaped her into the professional she is today. In this conversation we talk about the arc her career and from it pull out amazing insights, advice, and life lessons that she has learned that will leave you motivated and equipped to better pursue the opportunities that this industry presents to you.
104 : How to Deliver Difficult Feedback w/ Tom Henschel
Giving feedback is not an easy task. We often psych ourselves out and/or procrastinate on delivering it, dreading the conversation and what might happen when we bring it up. This is especially true when the situation seems to be infused with tension. Fear not! Today we turn to coaching and communication expert (and past guest), Tom Henschel to help us navigate the task of delivering feedback effectively so you get the best possible outcome. We discuss why it is hard to give feedback, the importance of keeping things conversational, some key missteps that managers make when delivering feedback, and we explore a 4 step model that Tom uses with his clients that provides a great framework for that feedback conversation you need to have. We even act out a couple scenarios and direct them to give examples of what to do , and what not to do.
098 : Loving the Closing Shift : Problems, solutions, and philosophy on work
As shifts go, the closing shift is normally not a covent one. We can suffer from boredom, lack of motivation, disillusionment, isolation, and end up feeling bitter toward our day-time counterparts who get to work more in the thick of the coffeehouse culture plus make better tips!
097 : Founder Friday w/ Erica Escalante of The Arrow Coffeehouse
It’s Founder Friday! Today we are honored to hear from the owner of The Arrow Coffeehouse, Erica Escalante. Erica is an 8 year veteran of the specialty industry and went from Starbucks barista to coffee shop owner. Her story is one of extraordinary hard work, dedication, building relationships, constant learning, vulnerability, and servant leadership. Her perspectives on communication, making business decisions, hiring, and where she draws energy and joy in her busy life will leave you refreshed and enlivened to work hard to do good.
084 : Crushing the Rush : Tips and Best Practices for Busy Times
“We got slammed!”, “Today was intense!”, “It was crazy!” …If you have ever said this then today’s episode is for you. In the cafe we all experience rushes differently based on how well prepared we are. A sudden pop of business or sustained time of having a line out the door can be either the time to shine or to …
083: 6 Essential Books for your Professional Growth
I love recommending great books! In this episode we talk about 6 books that I think are critical to your professional development. They cover everything form hospitality, coffee knowledge, operations, management, personal growth, and vocational calling and should be a part of your library. I want to do more episodes like this so keep an eye and ear out for …
080 : Changing things in the Cafe : A workflow for Refinement
Changing things in the shop can either make things better or make things worse. Of course you need to have a good idea or solution, but, once you have that, it is all about HOW you go about implementing the change. Today I am presenting to you some guidelines, A workflow of sorts, that will help you make changes that …
074 : The Life Changing Power of Good Authority w/ Jonathan Raymond
Good authority changes lives and can change the world! It all starts with with how we show up for the people we lead and the way we facilitate both theirs and our growth in a people-first culture. In the current climate where being a boss or having authority is rightfully met with skepticism, having the road map and the tools …
067 : 6 Truths About Power : The Responsible Approach to Power Dynamics in the Cafe
We all will be leaders in our careers. In the cafe there are positions that hold various levels of power and influence. We can either use this power for the good of those we lead or we can use it destructively. Too often we see the abuse of position in a shop and even more often we see a general …
066: Shaping and Developing your Team w/ Beth Garrison
Leading and developing your staff depends on how well you understand what gives rise to their behavior in the cafe. Today we talk with Behavior Analyst, Beth Garrison and will discuss the basics of behavior analysis, the 5 behaviors of a healthy team, the role environment plays in encouraging or discouraging behavior, and more! Links: www.shapingdevelopment.com www.operantcoffee.com www.abainternational.org Beth Garrison …
