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Kevin Johnson

Starbucks, Former CEO
EPISODE 25

How to Stay Agile and Innovative

Today’s guest is Kevin Johnson, CEO of Starbucks.

Do you ever feel like your organization is incredibly complex? Like it takes forever to get anything done?

It’s a pretty common issue, especially if you lead in a big or fast-growing organization.

Now, obviously, Starbucks is a massive company. They operate in 82 countries with 383,000 employees. But they’re still able to innovate and adapt quickly. In fact, they embrace the mantra that they can go from idea to action in 100 days. 

This works because Kevin uses something called distributed leadership – where employees are empowered to make decisions themselves but also given common values and strategies to guide them.

Kevin tells us how we can use the same principles to stop getting bogged down and instead unleash some really great energy and innovation in our own organizations. 

You’ll also learn:

  • The unforgettable image that influences every decision Kevin makes
  • Two key components of building trust in relationships – and how to incorporate them at work
  • How to transition a business from founder-led to founder-inspired
  • Why empowering your employees isn’t enough (and what you need to add to it)
  • The 3 things you cannot afford NOT to do in a crisis

Take your learning further. Get proven leadership advice from these (free!) resources:

The How Leaders Lead App: A vast library of 90-second leadership lessons to stay sharp on the go 

Daily Insight Emails: One small (but powerful!) leadership principle to focus on each day

Whichever you choose, you can be sure you’ll get the trusted leadership advice you need to advance your career, develop your team, and grow your business.

More from Kevin Johnson

Nothing brings a team together like shared experiences
Sharing experiences as a team creates trust, a common language, and an emotional connection to the mission. That bond is crucial to getting big things done!
Do what brings you joy with people you love
Life is short. Make choices that help you spend more time doing what you enjoy alongside the people you care about.

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Short (but powerful) leadership advice from entrepreneurs and CEOs of top companies like JPMorgan Chase, Target, Starbucks and more.

Clips

  • Do what brings you joy with people you love
    Kevin Johnson
    Kevin Johnson
    Starbucks, Former CEO
  • Don’t let money drive every decision
    Kevin Johnson
    Kevin Johnson
    Starbucks, Former CEO
  • Your history and your future don’t have to be at odds
    Kevin Johnson
    Kevin Johnson
    Starbucks, Former CEO
  • Nothing brings a team together like shared experiences
    Kevin Johnson
    Kevin Johnson
    Starbucks, Former CEO
  • Use tech to extend in-person experiences
    Kevin Johnson
    Kevin Johnson
    Starbucks, Former CEO
  • Distributed leadership will keep your business agile
    Kevin Johnson
    Kevin Johnson
    Starbucks, Former CEO
  • Scale and complexity are the enemy of speed and agility
    Kevin Johnson
    Kevin Johnson
    Starbucks, Former CEO
  • To create connection, embrace vulnerability
    Kevin Johnson
    Kevin Johnson
    Starbucks, Former CEO
  • In times of crisis, engage with your people
    Kevin Johnson
    Kevin Johnson
    Starbucks, Former CEO
  • Step into courageous conversations about race
    Kevin Johnson
    Kevin Johnson
    Starbucks, Former CEO
  • Authenticity and shared values build trust
    Kevin Johnson
    Kevin Johnson
    Starbucks, Former CEO
  • Prioritize others people’s success
    Kevin Johnson
    Kevin Johnson
    Starbucks, Former CEO

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