Chili’s Comeback: A Lesson in Leadership from Brinker CEO Kevin Hochman

Chili’s is back in the spotlight, as its efforts to regain American consumers' favor are paying off. Same-store sales rocketed to 14.8% in the fiscal fourth quarter—a standout result in the restaurant industry. According to Chili’s CEO Kevin Hochman, a renewed focus on relevant marketing and viral social media campaigns, paired with value-driven promotions, has revitalized the brand.

This turnaround echoes leadership insights from Brinker CEO Kevin Hochman in his recent podcast episode on "How Leaders Lead." Hochman shares that real leadership means acting on feedback and showing your team and customers that you’re listening. Chili’s turnaround proves that staying relevant requires more than just fresh ideas—it takes consistent execution and clear communication. It’s a powerful lesson in vision, action, and results.

The leadership lesson here? LISTEN to employees and customers about what’s working and what’s not working. Once that feedback is implemented, communicate that to your team so they know you’re acting on the insights they provide. Long-term success requires listening, vision and then action — something that Hochman and his leadership team at Chili’s are doing well, and the earnings are showing for it!