How leadership transitions and strategic hiring can make or break your team’s success
When leadership changes happen, the ripple effects can make or break an organization. In this episode of the TRAITS Podcast, we dive into the challenges and opportunities of leadership transitions and strategic hiring with guest Chris DeCock, whose career spans the demanding restaurant industry and executive leadership roles.
Chris shares how he navigated the volatile world of hospitality, where COVID-19 hit the talent pool hard, forcing businesses to rethink how they develop people internally. His insights highlight why strategic hiring isn’t just about filling vacancies—it’s about building a leadership team from the ground up, often starting with front-line staff and developing them into long-term assets.
From there, we explore the value of identifying work ethic, character, and values—qualities that often fall outside personality assessments but are essential in leadership. Chris shares real-world examples of spotting leadership potential where others might overlook it.
The conversation then shifts to the human side of leadership transitions—what it means for employees when a leadership change occurs, and why “people leave managers, not organizations” rings true in almost every industry. Chris emphasizes that leadership transitions must be handled with intentionality, empathy, and a clear plan for sustaining culture and performance.
We also dig into the concept of employee-owned businesses, exploring the strengths and weaknesses of this model, and how it impacts leadership stability. Chris offers practical advice for leadership teams that want to “grow old together” while still bringing in fresh talent to sustain momentum.
By the end of the episode, listeners walk away with actionable strategies for:
Identifying and developing leadership talent internally
Understanding the cultural impact of leadership changes
Avoiding common pitfalls during leadership transitions
Leveraging strategic hiring to maintain stability and drive performance
Whether you’re a CEO, HR leader, or small business owner, this conversation provides a clear roadmap for making leadership changes without losing your best people or derailing your strategy.
Show Notes:
Part 1 of interview
2:25 The restaurant industry? This is terrifying! Who is Chris DeCock?
5:10 Covid killed talent… How to develop within an organization
8:00 Building an executive team from front line staff
12:40 Developing potential long term employees
16:40 Work ethic, character, and values fall outside of personality!
Part 2 of interview
19:10 Employee owned businesses; strengths and weaknesses
24:40 Handling transition: bring value to employees
27:10 Growing old together as a leadership team
32:40 The strategic advantage of having the right people
36:55 “People leave managers, not organizations”
Episode Resources & Links
-https://hudsonscanadaspub.com/locations/?all=1
-https://www.gretabar.com/
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