I managed the beverage and sports marketing efforts of Chick-fil-a, Inc., a quick-service restaurant company with 1,250 locations and $1.9 billion in annual sales. I've also held marketing positions with the Atlanta Braves, Callaway Gardens, and Lake Lanier Islands Resort.
Chick-fil-A instilled in me a passion for continuous improvement, both personally and professionally. I learned the two ways a person improves: through the books they read and the people with whom they interact. I now have a reading book least each year of at least 40 books and a team of people I meet with for learning, accountability, and personal improvement.
Modeled Leadership
I had the opportunity to observe and learn from Truett Cathy, Chick-fil-A's founder, and his sons (and company executives) Dan and Bubba Cathy. They modeled servant leadership in such a way that it became contagious. I also learned that if you succeed in your career but fail at home, you can't consider that a success. As Truett taught me, "You can be a success at both business and at home. In fact, you must be!"
I work a Sunday through Thursday schedule, so I have Fridays and Saturdays off. I'm also home by 6 p.m. during the week. This allows me to have quantity time with Wendy and the kids. What I have discovered is the beauty of quantity time. It's different from quality time. Quality time is great. However, quantity time is full of surprises because it is in those "routine" moments that some wonderful memories can happen.
To create this quantity time requires me to have a laser-like focus on what I want to accomplish each week. As a result, I spend 15-20 minutes every Sunday afternoon planning out the week ahead. I use a tool developed by the 1% Club called The Weekly Focus. It allows me to determine what is the most important and who is most important so that I can have the maximum impact in the week ahead. In addition, I have a planning day once a quarter with a team of people to determine our goals, progress, opportunities for improvement, and plan of action for the upcoming quarter.
Leadership Modeled
At Buckhead Church, one of my ultimate aims is to create an irresistible work environment. I want my staff to know that I care more about them as an individual that I do as an employee. Some employers believe "People are there to get the work done." That's flawed thinking. Instead, they should think, "Work is there to get the people done." In other words, the management of a company should ulitimately be concerned with the people first, and the work second. And one of the primary reasons is because it's a fantastic business strategy. Show me a company, church, or organization that has a passionate, loyal, talented, committed staff and I will show you a thriving organization.
Our work is part of our worship of God. How we approach our work, deal with staff members, follow through on action items, and strive for excellence is all a reflection of where we are spiritually. As believers in Christ, not only should our character and integrity be above reproach, but we should also set the pace for our industry and culture. Faith isn't an excuse not to work hard, diligently and with excellence. Instead, our faith should motivate us to even higher levels that those who don't believe.
Jeff Henderson is the Campus Pastor of Buckhead Church, a campus of North Point Ministries. After a 15-year career in marketing and advertising, Jeff moved into his fulltime ministry role in 2003. He and his wife Wendy have a daughter Jesse (7) and a son Cole (4).
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