Hate a decision from above? Tips for telling your team

From answering phones to owning the company | Lift Collective shifts to support more wine industry pros | Hy-Vee names winners of OpportUNITY pitch contest Created for {EMAIL} | [Web Version]( February 7, 2024 [WFF Leadership SmartBrief]( Advancing and Empowering Women Leaders [SIGN UP]( ⋅ [SHARE]( ADVERTISEMENT Women and Innovation in the Workforce [] [From answering phones to owning the company]( Tamra Kennedy took a secretarial job at a franchise company in 1984 and learned all the ins and outs of the business before buying the company when the original franchisee retired in 1999. Today, Kennedy's company operates six Taco John's restaurants. "Transitioning to being a franchisee was a bit easier for me because I had been in that world for so long," Kennedy says. Full Story: [Nation's Restaurant News (free registration)]( (2/1) [LinkedIn]( [X]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] [Lift Collective shifts to support more wine industry pros]( Lift Collective began in 2019 as Wonder Women of Wine and has shifted to support members of all groups who face exclusion in the wine industry and to fund entrepreneurs rather than seeking change in established companies. "We're hoping to find some new, fresh energy to take the organization and continue with some of the programs that we've built," founder Rania Zayyat said. Full Story: [StarChefs]( (2/5) [LinkedIn]( [X]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] [Hy-Vee names winners of OpportUNITY pitch contest]( [Hy-Vee names winners of OpportUNITY pitch contest]( (Hy-Vee) Hy-Vee named Humbl Roots as the grand-prize winner of a pitch competition at its OpportUNITY Inclusive Business Summit in Omaha, Neb., and the grocer awarded the manufacturer of alternative foods with a $30,000 small-business grant. Other Omaha, Neb.-area minority- and women-owned brands recognized in the competition include A+ Berry, a maker of antioxidant drinks, and RESPI, a medical device for emergency situations. Full Story: [Progressive Grocer]( (2/5) [LinkedIn]( [X]( [Facebook]( [Email]( Your Burgers Deserve Better Buns! ACE Bakery® burger buns offer a high, golden crown which provides maximum visual appeal and commands a higher price on your menu. Our buns have a soft bite, a clean flavor, and are resilient enough to stand up to toppings and sauces.[Get inspired!]( ADVERTISEMENT: [] Career Progression: Developing Leaders [] [Estis: Get personal with your team to keep them engaged]( Leaders can retain their top talent by building relationships with them, investing in their development, giving them chances for advancement and modeling a growth mindset -- which means getting personally involved with direct reports, says leadership expert Ryan Estis. "The most important thing a leader or manager could be doing is having one meaningful conversation a week with their direct reports or people on their team," Ryan suggests. Full Story: [Betterworks]( (2/6) [LinkedIn]( [X]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] [Hate a decision from above? Tips for telling your team]( Having to communicate -- and stand behind -- a decision from your boss that you disagree with is "one of the most challenging things you'll have to do as a leader," writes Ron Carucci, co-founder of Navalent. Carucci offers six tips that can make it easier, including venting first to a friend or coach to keep emotions in check and seeking a better perspective on the reasoning. Full Story: [Harvard Business Review (tiered subscription model)]( (2/5) [LinkedIn]( [X]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] Industry News & Trends [] [Regional Mexican cuisines take hold in Manhattan]( An influx of immigrants from Mexico over the past four decades has raised the bar on Mexican cuisine in New York City, with more Mexican eateries popping up in prime Manhattan locations. Eleven percent of restaurants around the country offer Mexican food, according to a Pew Research Center report, and New York City eateries like Casa Carmen, Mezcali and Quique Crudo are increasingly focused on feeding demand for the country's regional cuisines. Full Story: [BNN Bloomberg (Canada)]( (2/1) [LinkedIn]( [X]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] [Steakhouses evolve for an updated night out]( Diners continue to seek out steakhouses for their upscale ambiance, but the steak itself is increasingly being eclipsed by fish, pasta, vegetarian and even vegan options. US diners craving a night-out experience with a smaller price tag or a more health-conscious meal may split a smaller steak or order a variety of sides and seafood to share. Full Story: [The Wall Street Journal]( (1/31) [LinkedIn]( [X]( [Facebook]( [Email]( Featured Content Sponsored Content from New Hope Informa [Empower your future at Expo West!]( Dive into a world of natural and organic wonders at Expo West this March! Elevate your business by immersing yourself in the latest trends and products that define the industry. It's not just a trade show; it's a holistic experience designed to empower your future. Engage with industry experts, elevate your understanding of the market, and infinite potential for collaborative partnerships. [Register now!]( [] Read the latest from SmartBrief [] - [How eatertainment restaurants are transforming dining]( SmartBrief/Food (1/31) [] - [Top food and beverage events to keep on your radar in 2024]( SmartBrief/Food (1/22) [] - [Consumers' changing tastes heat up the spice aisle]( SmartBrief/Food (1/10) [] DEI and Company Culture [] [How General Mills "builds a culture of belonging"]( [How General Mills "builds a culture of belonging"]( (AaronP/Bauer-Griffin/Getty Images) General Mills believes investing in a support network for employees from diverse backgrounds "builds a culture of belonging where everybody can bring the best of their talent and apply it to the company's goals," shared Kofi Bruce, chief financial officer. Story: [CNBC]( (2/5) [LinkedIn]( [X]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] [Meijer showcases Black-owned brands]( Meijer has grown its selection of Black-owned brands by 35% since the inception of its Supplier Inclusion program in 2021, and during Black History Month in February the grocer is prominently displaying a selection of these suppliers including The Lip Bar, Just Sign USA, BLK & Bold and Mushroom Angel Co. Brands who join the Supplier Inclusion program also receive training and networking to scale and grow their products. Full Story: [Supermarket News (free registration)]( (2/1), [Progressive Grocer]( (2/1) [LinkedIn]( [X]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] [Why pay equity requires a structured approach]( Employers can fix pay-equity problems by conducting a structured analysis that considers all factors, including experience, qualifications and job roles, according to researchers, who recommend reviewing pay gaps in each department and identifying the differences. "When organizations use the structured approach to address pay inequity, they can understand the core issues of pay gaps -- the locus of inequity in their salary structure and any associated systematic biases -- and remediate the issue more precisely, beyond looking at just those employees who appear to be most underpaid," write the researchers, who advise against simply increasing the pay of employees who earn less than their co-workers. Full Story: [Harvard Business Review (tiered subscription model)]( (2/2) [LinkedIn]( [X]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] Work/Life Balance [] [More young adults see potential for work-life balance sans kids]( Longtime obstacles that once pushed working women to leave their jobs -- including the high cost of child day care, challenges of finding a partner to share household responsibilities and inflexible jobs -- are now prompting a growing number of young adults to not even pursue parenthood in favor of building their career. National polls of young adults with no children show that they will regret choosing to be parents, worry about the financial and medical costs of parenthood and the effects of climate change upon the future generation. Full Story: [Bloomberg]( (2/4) [LinkedIn]( [X]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] [Headaches tied to sleep quality, energy, stress]( Headaches tied to sleep quality, energy, stress (Pixabay) A study published in the journal [Neurology]( found people who had poor sleep quality and low energy on the previous day were at higher risk of incident morning headache. Researchers said higher than average energy levels and stress were associated with headache onset later in the day. Full Story: [Healio (free registration)]( (2/1) [LinkedIn]( [X]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] WFF Reader Poll [] Welcome to our new series of weekly polls. This month will focus on emotional intelligence. Keep an eye out for a SmartBrief Originals article at the end of the month with the results. [] How does emotional intelligence (the ability to recognize and regulate your emotions, and understand them in others) help you excel professionally? Please select one answer you most identify with. [Vote]( [I'm less reactive and better able to choose my behaviors.]( [Vote]( [I form more effective working relationships.]( [Vote]( [I handle stress better.]( [Vote]( [I'm more willing to step up and take purposeful risks.]( [Vote]( [I handle setbacks and disappointments more effectively.]( [] [] Don't sit down and wait for the opportunities to come. Get up and make them. [Madam C. J. Walker](, entrepreneur, philanthropist, activist February is Black History Month [LinkedIn]( [X]( [Facebook]( [Email]( LEARN MORE ABOUT the WFF: [About the WFF]( | [Join the WFF]( | [WFF Programs]( SmartBrief publishes more than 200 free industry newsletters - [Browse our portfolio]( [Sign Up]( | [Update Profile]( | [Advertise with SmartBrief]( [Unsubscribe]( | [Privacy policy]( CONTACT US: [FEEDBACK](mailto:wff@smartbrief.com) | [ADVERTISE](mailto:cwarne@smartbrief.com) [SmartBrief Future]( Copyright © 2024 SmartBrief. All Rights Reserved. A division of Future US LLC Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY, 10036.