Change the Conversation from ‘I’ to ‘We’ To ‘They’
In 1984, Tom Walter founded Tasty Catering, a catering and event planning company in Elk Grove Village, Illinois, with his brothers Kevin and Larry.
For years, Tom says he and his partners had a command-and-control leadership style.
About 12 years ago, all of that changed.
One day, two of Tom’s employees—who were in their 20s at the time—gave him an ultimatum: “Change your ways or we’ll leave,” they told him.
Tom shared this story when he visited Cincinnati for our Small Giants Executive Breakfast series, made possible thanks to the Entrepreneur’s Organization.
Tom says even though the conversation was a complete surprise to him, what happened afterwards was a positive cultural and personal transformation.
He learned that to work with the younger generation, he had to change his way of leading. That one, pivotal conversation would change the course of his company.
It wasn’t easy, but it gave him the opportunity to shift his leadership style.
Today, Tom serves as an example of an authentic leader who cares deeply about his people. Tom does whatever he can to help them become the best versions of themselves, in all areas of their lives.
Just as Tom exemplifies authentic, empowering leadership, Tasty Catering is evidence of what can happen when such leaders equip their people and care about them as…well, people!
Tasty Catering is on the Forbes America’s Best Small Companies List, a notable list of the top 25 small businesses in America with incredible company cultures and stories. They’ve also won more than 20 “best places to work” awards.
The purpose-driven company also has a turnover of less than 2% in an industry that averages 50%. And its profit margins are as much as twice the industry average.
Tom’s accomplishments are just as impressive. He’s a serial entrepreneur who has acquired wisdom from the start-up, acquisition, sale, and–in a few cases–termination of businesses in a variety of industries.
He’s a go-to thought leader and author when it comes to fostering a contagious culture and for growing a business with a focus on purpose before profits.
Besides being a popular speaker across the nation, he’s still involved at Tasty Catering.
His official tittle today? Chief Culture Officer—a fitting title given his dedication to fostering one of the psychologically healthiest workplaces in America. (He also shared the story of how he was given that title—which was formerly CEO—by his employees.)
There were many takeaways and memorable stories from the Q&A discussion with Tom, but here were two additional highlights for me.
Change the Conversation from ‘I’ to ‘We’ To ‘They’
Want a quick way to assess the state of your leadership today?
One way to tell is how you talk about your people. When sharing stories about your business with peers, do you use the pronoun “I….”? Or do you talk about “We”?
Or do you talk about “they”?
One of my favorite things that Tom shared was how it’s simply not about you as a leader. Yes, you are always going to care about the business—and perhaps you might care more than anyone—but it’s not about you.
It’s about your people.
Tom has been quoted as saying, “You will become great when the conversation changes from ‘I’ to ‘we’ to ‘they.’ Learn to trust your people.”
No wonder Tasty Catering has 9 spin-off companies started by Tasty Catering team members.
