The Proof Is In The Pudding

I’ve been reminded of three things over the past week. I’ve remembered that things are not always as they seem, buy in does not always lead to follow through, and that people will always be people- unpredictable and complex. Normally, one of my greatest strengths is my ability to read people and predict behavior which made my current situation all the more surprising.

During a wonderful, record-breaking sales weekend, I lost an employee. She made a decision to leave our store. What surprised and saddened me most was the fact that we met together only two days before, spent time exploring her leadership role and the potential impact she could have on our store. Her excitement was evident. Her buy-in to the company vision and desire for operational excellence seemed genuine. She even took hold of the conversation, moving into ways she could impact our customers to ensure they received the best food and service possible. However, her behavior just 24 short hours later was completely different and she made the unexpected decision to quit.

Needless to say, the whole turn of events was disappointing. However, it's been a good reminder for me that, well, the proof is in the pudding. People can say all the right things, but ultimately we are all judged by our actions over time. It's the proven behavior at all levels which leads to trust and grows the relationships that successful businesses are built upon!