229 : 7 Tips for New Managers

Chris DeferioManagement, Podcast

Entering into a new role, or even just taking over a new cafe or team, is a daunting challenge. Many burn out and the experience leaves a bitter taste in their mouth and a lot of destruction in their wake. In the midst of the reshuffling during COVID there are a lot of opportunities to establish a new way of …

Work Alchemy

Chris DeferioPodcast

Not everything we do is fun. Actually, there are a lot of dirty, time-consuming, repetitive tasks that we have to do everyday on order for the cafe to function. Even though these tasks seem rather dull, we can transform them into something of…

228 : Cracking the Leadership Code w/ Alain Hunkins

Chris DeferioLeadership, Podcast

    Leadership is a HUGE topic and it is easy to get overwhelmed with the never-ending opinions and techniques that are available these days. It is cruel in a way because in a time where we need good leadership the most we want to find good resources but the choice of what voice to listen to is often paralyzing. …

No News is Bad News

Chris DeferioPodcast

We assume that if nobody is complaining and life seems to be going along smoothly that all is well. We enact the popular mantra of “Well, no news is good news!” In reality though, “no news” is bad news. Why do we think this way?  Today we will be…

227 : Connecting with Hearts and Minds

Chris DeferioHospitality, Podcast

  More than communication, we need connection! As we move forward through the current retail landscape the currency of connection with our guests and also our staff becomes more valuable. A focus on connection and conversational communication is what will separate the sustainable businesses from the unsustainable. Today we will be diving into the need for reaching the hearts and …

Long-game Management

Chris DeferioPodcast

Nobody likes to feel bad. In fact in management we are somewhat obsessed with avoiding negative emotions, confrontation, and challenging our staff out of a sense of self preservation or keeping the peace. We believe that if things feel good in the…

Who you are & What you Do

Chris DeferioPodcast

We all can have a difficult time with serving the public. These days we may be putting on a literal mask, but if we are honest, we have been wearing a metaphorical mask for a while now. Much of how we show up on at work has to do with how we show up…