Pet Supplies Plus’ Post

I see and hear a lot of stories when the younger generation are getting a bad rap in the workplace. “They are entitled”, “They are not loyal”, “They expect a promotion after 6 months”, and many more. The reality is, I don’t believe this is 100% true and I want to help change this perception. In my position we Leadership Training Manager at Disney I have been helping emerging leaders to grow their skills and secure promotions and I want to help more. Coming soon: A blueprint of how to grow your career and be the leader you want to become. 👇Comment below if you want more information when it becomes available, either for yourself or your Gen Z’s.

As I reflect on my career, I am proud of the journey that has shaped my leadership style. Starting from an entry-level position and working my way up to executive roles, I’ve learned invaluable lessons about resilience, innovation, and the importance of a strong work ethic. I hold tightly to the memories of the early days of my career and the experiences I had in entry-level positions. When I opened Tipari for business in 2017, I made a conscious decision and effort to be a different type of leader than what I had experienced. Empathy became a cornerstone of my leadership philosophy. Being supportive to my staff, helping them learn and grow, and fostering their areas of interest were important to me because I never experienced that in a leader. I wanted my frontline employees to know that I valued them as much as I valued my Leadership team. Their contributions were just as significant as my own. My commitment to excellence extended beyond building a successful and profitable business. It meant creating a business environment that fostered happiness and harmony. Ensuring that my employees were as happy as my customers was a key priority. Yes, I aimed for a successful and profitable business, but I also wanted to create an environment that I had never experienced before. I aspired to enrich the lives of my employees. I don’t believe I could have become the leader that I am without the experiences I had working as a frontline employee with management and leadership teams that embodied everything I never aspired to be. These experiences gave me a blueprint of what not to do and, while I did not enjoy the experience at the time, I am thankful for it now. #LeadershipJourney #CareerGrowth #Leadership #EmpathyInLeadership #BusinessExcellence

As an above-store leader, one of my goals was to foster collaboration and empower managers to support each other. One day, Nicole, the new manager of our Amory location, found herself short-staffed. She jumped into action—repositioning team members, getting creative with roles, and keeping the operation running smoothly. But here’s the best part: Bridgette, the GM of our Fulton location, stepped in with encouragement and an extra dose of motivation 🎉 Bridgette wasn’t just crushing her own P&Ls, customer reviews, employee retention, and COGS—she was also using her expertise to help other locations thrive. After mastering her own store’s operations, she stretched her skills by mentoring her peers and supporting the district’s success. This wasn’t just about her—it was about us as a team. As above-store leaders, we have the responsibility to: ✅ Foster cross-location teamwork—Encourage managers to collaborate and create a team-first mindset. ✅ Develop future leaders—Challenge high-performing GMs to coach and mentor others. ✅ Build a culture of empowerment—Create an environment where managers feel supported, recognized, and confident. When your managers feel part of a bigger mission, they don’t just show up—they rise up. And that’s how you create a culture where everyone wins. 💡 #RestaurantLeadership #TeamworkInAction #HospitalityManagement #RestaurantSuccess #LeadershipInHospitality #ManagerDevelopment #EmpoweringLeaders #RestaurantGrowth #RestaurantOperations #LeadershipMatters #RestaurantTeamwork #HospitalityLeaders #RestaurantOwners #BuildingBetterTeams #LeadershipGoals

What you do before you start a leadership role is critical to your success in the first 90 days and beyond. It’s tempting rely on what you know and what’s served you well before, but you risk jumping to the wrong conclusions and heading off in the wrong direction. Instead, be intentional about how you leave, replenish your energy and relationships, and learn about what it takes to succeed in your new role.close. https://lnkd.in/dxGcPyGr

Woohoo! Just celebrated my five-year anniversary with Smith & Nephew 🎉 🎉, and I can’t help but reflect with immense gratitude on this journey so far. The opportunities I’ve had, the lessons I’ve learned, and most importantly, the people I’ve met, have truly inspired and shaped me in ways I couldn’t have imagined. One of the greatest gifts throughout these years has been the privilege of working alongside remarkable leaders. It’s easy to remember the brilliant ones—those who stand out not only for their skills but for their compassion and dedication to their teams. And of course, there have been others who have taught me different, though equally valuable, lessons about leadership. But if there’s one quality that consistently stands out, it’s the ability of great leaders to care deeply about their people. I’ve been incredibly fortunate at Smith & Nephew to experience firsthand what caring leadership looks like. It’s in the leaders who make the time to mentor and guide, who take a genuine interest in both professional and personal growth. It’s in those who foster a culture of trust and empowerment, where people are encouraged to challenge themselves while knowing they have the support they need. Over the years in HR, I have seen that this kind of leadership doesn’t just drive success; it transforms the way we work. When you feel truly cared for and valued, it brings out your best self. You’re not just doing your job; you’re motivated to contribute, innovate, and elevate those around you. Caring leadership creates a ripple effect. When leaders show authentic care for their teams, it’s reflected in how we treat one another, how we approach challenges, and how we rise to meet our goals. This environment of respect and support leads to greater engagement, deeper loyalty, and higher performance 👍 ! #leadership #care #teamwork #success #SmithAndNephew #anniversary

As your business grows you get better at the fundamental parts of it. For us, that’s stuff like driving calls to our CSRs and getting booking rates up. That hustle and drive comes from having great team leads. Please, whatever you do: Don't handwave away what good leadership, no matter the position, can do for your business. Our team leads are really the technical experts that their on-site team members turn to for knowledge. It’s also why team leads are our future leaders and managers. A great team leader is someone with a mindset of being a coach–they take the time to teach and use their experiences while also having the right demeanor. And you know what? I love when we bring up people, create careers, and are able to gloat about bringing our own people up through the ranks. One of our top managers started as a CSR. They worked. They learned. And now they lead. I love it.

From childhood dreams of cheerleading to choreographing teamwork at the highest levels, watch the moment Rachell Kitchen, CPC, ACC, ELI-MP, author of 'Doubt Your Doubts,' helps me trace my journey from aspiring Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader to leading Trusted Teams and creating HIGHER. Our focus is on fostering teamwork, coordination, and unity across all levels of an organization. This commitment inspired the development of HIGHER, designed to facilitate cross-functional frontline teams as they grow in leadership character together. A single yearly subscription can support up to three teams, optimizing time and enhancing client satisfaction through seamless cross-departmental collaboration. It's time to high-kick interdepartmental struggles out of your management vocabulary and go HIGHER. Now, I’m curious—can you see links between your childhood passions and your current professional path? Share your stories! 🎉 #TeamworkInAction #HIGHERJourney #TrustedTeams #LeadershipDevelopment #HIGHERImpact

If you're leading a team or department and someone gets hurt, you have to sit down and ask yourself: have I done what I reasonably could to show that safety is important in our workplace? In the team? Have I shown consistently that this is a priority? Also when the pressure is on? This is so important, regardless of the investigation results. As a leader, I've learned that employees are intensively watching you almost always, and that your bad days or even moments set the standard for behavior. My first job was McDonald's, and after three months there, I could tell you which store manager was working by the way the dining room looked. Leadership is tough! #Leadership #WorkplaceSafety #McDonalds

What you do before you start a leadership role is critical to your success in the first 90 days and beyond. It’s tempting rely on what you know and what’s served you well before, but you risk jumping to the wrong conclusions and heading off in the wrong direction. Instead, be intentional about how you leave, replenish your energy and relationships, and learn about what it takes to succeed in your new role.

Absolutely! I learned a valuable lesson back in 2008 when I first started out in advertising. My boss was always friendly with everyone at our clients' offices, greeting everyone warmly, from the receptionist to the Managing Director. When the time comes to give Christmas gifts, he made sure everyone received something. He used to say, “Teju, treat everyone well. If the leadership changes and you don’t know the new Managing Director, the people you treated well will help you get the appointment you need.” This approach taught me that every individual has value and that kindness is essential. Just be nice. I see every relationship as a random seed we sow. You never know what it will grow into or how it will benefit you in the future. So, remember: BE NICE.