In this episode of Culture From the Heart Podcast, hosts Larry Levine and Darrell Amy are joined by Bruce Osterhaven, President of Big O Smokehouse. Bruce shares insights on the values and culture that guide his family-owned business, focusing on the importance of authenticity, customer service, and employee engagement. He discusses the challenges and rewards of taking over a family business, the significance of mentorship and peer groups, and the vital role of being coachable. Bruce also underscores the necessity of continuous learning and self-improvement as a leader. This episode provides a comprehensive look at how heart-centered leadership can create a thriving organizational culture, especially during generational transitions.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Building a business with heart means serving both employees and customers with passion and authenticity.
- Family businesses face unique challenges, especially during generational transitions; clear planning and open communication are essential.
- Coachability and willingness to learn are core values that drive company culture and success.
- Dependability and quality are critical in the food industry, where one mistake can impact many.
- Seeking advice, learning from peers, and staying open-minded are vital for leadership growth.
QUOTES
- “If we think we got it figured out, then we're gonna get bit, have a big head too much.”
- “Being able to go to a peer group, you know, bouncing ideas and issues with other people is priceless.”
- “The heart has to be all the way through… make products that are delicious and great, but also being able to serve everybody in a way that works for everybody on all levels.”
- “If I wouldn't eat this product… I want them to be able to get the message through all the systems so that we're able to produce what people want all the time.”
- “Coachability… once somebody's not coachable, then you can't keep going.”
- “If we think we got it figured out, then we're gonna get bit… I need to get outside myself and listen to podcasts and read books to keep myself on track and to think bigger.”
- “You got to earn some respect from the people… If they know their processes and what they're doing, then you're gonna get a lot more respect and a lot better feedback.”
- “Great cultures start with the heart.”
Learn more about Darrell and Larry.
Darrell's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/darrellamy/
Larry's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/larrylevine1992/
Connect and learn more from Bruce Osterhaven.
Ready to begin realizing the full potential of your sales team? Hire Great Salespeople with Confidence. SCHEDULE YOUR EXECUTIVE BRIEFING.
Unlock The Power of Team Growth with Learnit’s Live Training Platform. CLAIM your 45-day trial of unlimited training now!
Too many leaders hide behind numbers that don’t matter. Authentic growth begins with clarity. Join Darrell Amy to learn the one metric that truly drives results.