Cole Flanders’ journey to becoming a new Chick-fil-A franchise owner and his leadership approach.

Key Takeaways

  – Cole’s 8-year journey to Chick-fil-A ownership involved multiple roles, including team member, leadership development program, and working with established operators

  – Opening a new Chick-fil-A involves intensive hiring (110 people) and training, with corporate support for the initial launch

  – Cole emphasizes intentional leadership development and culture-building as key to successful store operations and growth

Topics

Cole’s Path to Chick-fil-A Ownership

  – Started in the poultry industry after college, wife began working at Chick-fil-A

  – Aligned personal purpose with Chick-fil-A’s values and opportunities

  – 8-year journey: 2 years as a team member, 2.5 years in the leadership development program, 3 years with an established operator

  – Selected for Valley, Alabama location; signed franchise agreement in August

New Store Opening Process

  – Currently in the pre-opening phase, the store is set to open on December 5th

  – Handling business licenses, vendor relationships, and community connections

  – Preparing to hire ~110 employees through ~450 interviews in 5-6 weeks

  – Chick-fil-A provides support: 3 opening supervisors, 20-35 corporate trainers for 3 weeks

Leadership Development Approach

  – Implements 4-month leadership development program for potential shift leaders

  – Uses 70-20-10 model: 70% hands-on, 20% peer learning, 10% classroom

  – Includes mentorship, on-the-job training, and 7 classroom sessions (~15 hours total)

  – Focuses on leadership theory, restaurant operations, and practical scenarios

Culture and Team Building

  – Emphasizes creating a positive work environment and personal connections with team members

  – Appoints a leader for team member care to handle birthdays, events, and appreciation initiatives

  – Conducts bi-annual reviews using a competency model aligned with core values

  – Provides clear paths for growth and development within the organization

Lessons in Leadership

  – Learned the importance of trusting instincts and not succumbing to peer pressure in business decisions

  – Emphasized the need for a strong, consistent vision to guide business growth and decision-making

Next Steps

  – Post job openings and begin the interview process for new store

  – Continue pre-opening preparations and community engagement

  – Implement leadership development and culture-building strategies from day one

  – Prepare for December 5th store opening with support from Chick-fil-A corporate team