(This is a repost from a few years ago.)
Does your organization operate by your values? Do your employees practice them?
It happens almost every morning. I show up in a small cozy shop where the smell of coffee floats out the door and the sound of happy people talking fills the air while staff members wearing green aprons smile and greet you at the counter.
Have you guessed where we are yet? Yes, it's Starbucks, where the Green Apron People want to serve you.
I had an employee who served as a manager in the Starbucks chain. She described the company's values and the training staff goes through. She also told me about The Green Apron Book. Some of you might be familiar with this book already, but I hadn't read it yet, so I got my hands on a copy. It helped me to understand the environment I was experiencing at Starbucks.
Here are some thoughts from the book:
- Give, connect, elevate.
- Be welcoming.
- Be genuine.
- Be knowledgeable.
- Be considerate.
- Be involved.
The book concludes with these words: "Make a friend, make a difference, make someone's day!"
The Green Apron People I've met practice the values presented in this book. They seek to create a place where I can come and experience acceptance, service, and pleasure. I can't think of a better example of servant leadership. Starbucks is an established part of so many people's daily lives, and it all revolves around a form of servanthood.
So here is my challenge: Ask yourself, "Do I serve others in that way? Is my work exemplified by that kind of servanthood?"
Thank God for the Green Apron People!