Julia Claydon, Nando’s and Meaningful Work

Years ago when I worked for an innovation company, one of our clients was KFC. Now, the first thing that happened was the day after I was hired to run this project, Mad Cow Disease hit the UK and KFC’s sales doubled overnight.  I tried to take credit for that.

And the second thing that happened was that we went to check out the competition.  A new chain selling chicken had just arrived from South Africa, Nando’s.  And it was good. It was very good.

Julia Claydon’s been part of that leadership team from almost the very start. She’s seen the chain grow from five stores to almost two hundred, with well over four million pounds turnover a week.

Part of their success is how they don’t treat this as a “McJob” for anyone in the organization. In out conversation she talks about the strategies they’ve used to successfully grow and keep people doing work that’s meaningful and engaging – part of the recipe for success, no doubt.  Listen on to hear:

• a story where corporate values actually mattered, and weren’t just an ignored laminated poster
• a story where the humanity and skills of the front-line staff are fully recognized
• the unique structure by which feedback is passed from front-line to the senior leaders of the organization

It’s a terrific, behind-the-scenes tour of a growing organization.

Listen to my interview with Julia Claydon

0:16 Michael introduces Julia Claydon

2:56 A story where the humanity and skills of the front-line staff are fully recognized

5:03 A story where corporate values actually mattered, and weren’t just an ignored laminated poster

18:54 The unique structure by which feedback is passed from front-line to the senior leaders of the organization

25:30 Michael closes the interview

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