Nation’s Restaurant News: David Novak: Leaders Must Recognize and Praise Their Teams

Recognition and employee praise have always been a big part of David Novak’s leadership strategy. The co-founder and former CEO of Yum! Brands Inc. believes it is the key to success in the hospitality industry. According to a recent Nation’s Restaurant News article, Novak shared great insights at MUFSO this year outlining his three key leadership lessons.

“You have to take people with you to make big things happen,” said Novak, who retired from Yum in May 2016. “You have to get your ‘people capability’ right to give customers what they’re really looking for.”

First on the list for his three-pronged approach was being aware of your own personal strengths and weaknesses as a leader. Take feedback from your team and actually listen. While a leader may have reached the top for good reason, it shouldn’t stop a person from continuing t grow and treat themselves as a work in progress.

Another important mindset to have is to think of yourself as a marketer for your business whether you are in that role or not. For winning over internal employees or franchisees, marketing research and techniques can help show why your newest idea will turn out to be successful. With employee buy in, you have a much better chance of success.

Last but certainly not least, building a team environment where everyone works together as a system is an important task that many leaders take themselves out of the equation for. Novak recalls giving away a rubber chicken instead of a plaque with the $100 that franchisees of the month were receiving, which was a big hit. That along with real changes to the business got people excited about the KFC system again.

Does praise and recognition actually help the bottom line? Novak thinks it makes quite the difference. “There’s no question in my mind that recognition is the soft stuff that drives hard results,” Novak said.