Reader:

The moment you move from "for me" to "with me!"

(for the video version click the image below)

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The Power of a Question...​
The moment you move from “for me” to “with me”

Jerry brought together 8 of his top restaurant managers for a listening session at the home office in Spartanburg, South Carolina.

No supervisors.
No hierarchy.

Just Jerry… and his managers—talking, listening, and working through the real issues.

Before the session, each manager submitted the biggest challenges they were facing in their day-to-day operations.

Two themes stood out:
They felt geographically disconnected…
And they felt like their input wasn’t being heard.

Exactly the kind of feedback Jerry wanted.

So instead of telling them what to do…
He started asking questions.

“How can we work more closely together as a team?”
“What are we doing to recruit talent for this fast-growing company?”
“What could we create that builds both competition and camaraderie?”

He didn’t rush to answers.
He probed.
And more importantly—he listened.

By the end of the session, something powerful had happened.

Jerry introduced a sales competition across all 140+ restaurants—
where each manager would report daily progress.

It wasn’t just a contest.

It was a way to connect the organization.
To create energy.
To build ownership.

The year was 1972.
Jerry Richardson was the president of Spartan Food Systems.

He would later become the owner of the Carolina Panthers.

But long before that—he understood something many leaders miss:

The difference between compliance… and ownership.

Compliance says:
“Just tell me what to do.”

Ownership says:
“I’m part of this—and my input matters.”

The old model of leadership was top-down.
The leader decides. The team executes.

The better model?
​ Involve your people.
Ask better questions.
Teach them how to think and make decisions.

Because people support what they help create.

And that’s the shift—from people working for you…
to people working with you.

As you wrap up this week, think about this:

Where are you asking for compliance… when you could be creating ownership?

One conversation—one question—can unlock the untapped potential on your team.

That’s not just good leadership…that’s how you build a culture where people want to contribute.

Use These with Your Team this Week:

• Creating Accountability That Sticks
• The Power of Listening
• Setting Clear Expectations​
• Building Trust Daily

Let’s build it together.

And remember:
Information Without Transformation is Wasted Energy!

That is today’s Morning Minute.

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👉 “Use These Short Videos with Your Team This Week:”

​"Discovering Your Primary Mission!" It's not what you say - It's how they hear it. Discover a series of questions that will identify the real primary mission for your organization. Learn how that clarity leads to shared cooperation. How that having a shared mission is essential in creating high level performance. And, how that great team performance helps you achieve your primary mission.

​"Values, Behaviors, & Actions Drive Performance!" What you do, and how you do it, matters more than how you feel about it! Who you are is more important than how you feel. And, what you do is matters more important than what you say. Values drive your behaviors. Behaviors determine your actions. And, your actions create your results.

​"Who Is You TOUGHEST Opponent?" That s the one standing between you and the success you say you want! Discover who actually is your greatest opponent, what they choose to learn, what they choose to practice, and what they choose to avoid. Learn how that Pat Riley's program Career Best Effort will help you overcome complacency! Then, decide how you want to proceed.

​"Own Your Time - Stop Being Overwhelmed!" Its your time: Plan It, Review It; Take back your day! If you have been or are experiencing being overwhelmed, learn this simple process to manage your time as you manage your schedule. Discover this simple, effective time management system, plus Stephen Covey's decision framework for handling your To Do List!.

Have questions or comments? Contact me HERE.

I would very much appreciate you sharing with me how you use these Morning Minutes to help your team to be more, do more, and earn more.

Lead well,​
​Larry B

Helping leaders build cultures where their people work with them, not for them.

📘 Work With Me, Not For Me​
Building ownership, accountability, and stronger teams

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(published by Bonorato Creative Group, LLC; all rights reserved)