Employee Newsletter 8/14/2023

CoCo Reflections from Kyle Ryan:

This Week’s CoCo: Prepare For Your Work

Are we feeling philosophical again today? Great! I have two Sun Tzu quotes to kick off this week’s reflection on Prepare for your Work. “Those who are victorious plan effectively and change decisively. They are like a great river that maintains its course but adjusts its flow…”, and, “Plan for what is difficult while it is easy, do what is great while it is small.” I really appreciate how simply he describes these large, vague concepts like planning and preparing. They’re almost mnemonic devices for whenever you’re about to undertake a huge task. Growing up as a Boy Scout, one of the first things you’re instructed to memorize is the Scout Motto: Be Prepared. Even now when I’m packing for a vacation, no matter how small, I still treat it as though I’m running through my camping equipment checklist. You never know when it might rain or get chilly! But beyond making sure you have enough pairs of socks, having everything we need to start our time at work is a guaranteed way to set yourself up for success.

Between all of our different departments, preparing for the day (or night) can look vastly different. And while giving yourself adequate personal time separate from your work is a healthy habit, coming into really anything without a game plan can make it that much more stressful. Like a chess player envisioning moves in advance, anticipation allows one to be ready for various scenarios, mitigating surprises and giving you some sense of control. Yet, even a well-prepared player will hesitate if confidence is absent. Confidence in this sense isn’t from arrogance, but from a thorough understanding of one’s capabilities. Confidence is nurtured by previous achievements, positive self-affirmations, and a support network that provides encouragement. With confidence, preparation transforms into a springboard, propelling us to tackle challenges with ease.

Preparing for work is more than a checklist of tasks to complete before stepping into the professional arena. It’s a mix of anticipation and confidence, creating a feeling of readiness that is both strategic and psychological.

Next Week’s CoCo: Speak Up

Over the past week, I’ve been struck by a sudden Tears for Fears phase. So, without further ado, “Shout, shout, let it all out…”. Seriously, from top to bottom their second album, Songs from The Big Chair, is well-worth a listen if it’s been a while. So, funnily enough, this week we’re looking at Speak Up. Speaking up at work can give us more purpose and clear navigation, but it also builds a space of openness and collaboration. Diverse ideas can flourish, fueling creativeness and adaptability.  Problems are addressed earlier, preventing escalation and promoting transparency, which ultimately contributes to the long-term health of a team. If you aren’t familiar with writer Simon Sinek, his book and TedTalk called “Start With Why” is really invigorating if you’re feeling in a professional or personal rut. It encourages individuals, and organizations, to delve into the core motivations behind their actions. 

I see this concept aligning with the act of speaking up, as it prompts us to voice our opinions and ideas for the greater purpose of achieving shared goals. Speaking up allows us to actively contribute to the ‘why’ by sharing perspectives, identifying challenges, and proposing unique solutions. Why am I doing this? Why are we doing this? And how do we identify this? Sinek gives an illustration, called the “Golden Circle.” The model is just three concentric circles labeled (from inner to outer): ‘Why,’ ‘How,’ and ‘What’. The circle helps visualize the, sometimes invisible, layers of any collective or personal effort. The ‘Why’ represents the values and vision of an organization. When team members do speak up, they have an opportunity to engage with this central purpose, driving the organization forward by contributing to the ‘How.’ Only by considering and assessing the two inner circles are we able to truly feel satisfied in the ‘What.’

By connecting team members to the purpose behind their efforts, speaking up becomes a tool of fulfilling that purpose. A clear, shared mission or goal (Why), shapes the strategies and processes (How), and propels the team’s success to achieve The What. As Sinek puts it, “People don’t buy what you do; they buy why you do it.”

CoCo Heroes:

• Speak Up: This Core Commitment Hero comes from the Shorewood Cafe Team – Dan Olsen! Dan regularly notices and speaks up to the team and his team leader about problems and areas of improvement in the cafe. He even takes his speak ups to the next level by thinking through and presenting possible solutions to problems. Thanks Dan for always speaking up and being a valuable member of the team! 

Wins & Shout-outs:

Job Openings:

• Lead Educator Position: If you are a Coffee Geek with a contagious passion for learning, iteration, and remarkable care, then being a part of Stone Creek Coffee’s Education Team may be a great fit for you! We are currently seeking a Lead Educator to create and execute remarkable educational experiences for SCC Barista, SCC Partners, and Customers. From the interaction with the barista, to the beverage and environment quality, the main focus of the Lead Educator is to win new fans for Stone Creek Coffee. Click here to learn more and apply!
• Join the Whitefish Bay Opening Team: We are so excited for the opportunity to Create Remarkable Care in a new Whitefish Bay Cafe & Kitchen, with a target opening date this summer! We are in the early stages of building a team of Baristas, Line Cooks, and Cafe & Kitchen Team Leaders. If you are interested in joining the Whitefish Bay opening team, either as a permanent transfer or a temporary transfer, reach out to teams@stonecreekcoffee.com!

view all current openings

Employee Discount Codes:
Please don’t share these with non-employees

• 20% Employee-Only Website Coupon Code
  • August: Aug2023sccemp
• 40% Employee-Only Mobile App Coupon Code
  • August: Aug2023sccemp

Ways to Speak Up:

Do you want to speak up about ideas, thoughts, and more? Send an email to Teams & People (teams@stonecreekcoffee.com) or use the button below to send a note anonymously.