Chris Deferio, a cafe quality specialist with 20 years in the specialty coffee industry and host of Keys to the Shop, shares valuable insights on employee retention. He emphasizes hiring for attitude and growth potential, while discussing innovative strategies for small businesses. Chris reveals the importance of investing in employee development beyond paychecks and practicing intentional breaks to enhance workplace culture. He also highlights the role of self-awareness and feedback in leadership, advocating for a supportive environment that nurtures loyalty.
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volunteer_activism ADVICE
Plan for Employee Growth
Invest thought into your employees' roles and their future contributions.
Project what employees will be doing in the future and plan their development.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Hire for Potential
Hire for attitude and future potential, not just for the present needs.
Consider if the candidate can grow with the business and adapt to future challenges.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Interview Question for Self-Awareness
Ask interview candidates how they contributed to dysfunction in past roles.
This reveals their self-awareness and how they handle workplace challenges.
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Why Some Companies Make the Leap... and Others Don't
Jim Collins
In 'Good to Great,' Jim Collins and his research team investigate why some companies achieve long-term greatness while others do not. The book identifies key concepts such as Level 5 Leadership, the Hedgehog Concept, a Culture of Discipline, and the Flywheel Effect. These principles are derived from a comprehensive study comparing companies that made the leap to greatness with those that did not. The research highlights that greatness is not primarily a function of circumstance but rather a result of conscious choice and discipline. The book provides practical insights and case studies to help businesses and leaders understand and apply these principles to achieve sustained greatness.
Chris Deferio: Keys to the Shop
Chris Deferio is a cafe quality specialist who has dedicated 20 years of his life to working in and studying specialty coffee retail. He is also the creator and host of the industry leading podcast, Keys to the Shop, which gives listeners insights, inspiration, and tools to grow as specialty coffee professionals.
Chris previously appeared on the show to help us get more perspective on managing part-time staff. In this conversation, Chris and I explore some of the practical steps that small business owners and general managers can take in order to support employee retention.
Key Points
Be mindful of the realities of turnover in a small business, but don’t let it stop you from thinking about the future and investing in people.
Yes, hire for attitude — and also have an eye to future potential as the business grows.
Ask people this question in interviews: “Where did you contribute to dysfunction in your prior organization?”
Make an investment in people beyond the paycheck. This could be learning, culture, competitions, or more. There are ways to do this without tremendous expense.
Practice intentional breaks in your rhythm, since nobody else in your business is likely to do this.
Resources Mentioned
Keys to the Shop podcast
Good to Great* by Jim Collins
Good Authority* by Jonathan Raymond
Chris Deferio’s consulting
Related Episodes
Three Steps To Soliciting Feedback, with Tom Henschel (episode 107)
How to Lead Part-Time Staff, with Chris Deferio (episode 289)
Six Tactics to Achieve Extraordinary Performance, with Morten Hansen (episode 337)
How to Connect Personal Growth to Business Outcomes, with Jonathon Raymond (episode 373)
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