What is culture and how does a coach cultivate it? It’s your attitude and the way you think. It’s buying into the way we operate, it’s what we believe in and it becomes a way of life. Here’s an example: In 1978 Peter decides it time to come out to Kansas and see his buddy play football in person. When we picked him up at the airport he had two suitcases. One for his clothes and one stuffed full of products and materials to set up a sub shop right there on the premises in the Kansas City Airport.

Imagine Peter borrowing a table from maintenance and preparing the sub line complete with all the fixings for a dozen delicious subs personally and authentically made by him feeding his friends and family. That’s servant leadership in a nut shell. He went way out of his way to make life better for others. After all we’re here to make good things happen for others. That gives you a glimpse of what culture is and can be. At Jersey Mike’s we say “Great culture attracts great people”. People are our Purpose and leaders take care of their people.

Culture can help companies retain workers which can give them an edge in our industry where turnover is 110 percent according to Sullivan.com. So many books have been written on coaching, culture and leadership. One of my favorites is “Leaders Eat Last” by Simon Sinek. He’s a big believer in bottom up leadership we know as Servant leadership. Essentially, putting others first. Somewhere along my studies with the monks I recall something about the first shall be last and the last shall be first. I think Simon figured out that this philosophy works in life and in business.

Every great leader has a self-less quality. The mind set of I am second. Putting others first. I also love the F.A.M.I.L.Y. foundation, an acronym for Forget About Me I Love You. We apply this principle every chance we get. Managers need to learn how to coach and cultivate your culture. Culture drives everything that happens in an organization each day. We need to cultivate a culture of connection and of listening in our stores. Culture has to be owned by the leadership. It can’t be left to chance.