Brewing Resilience

Confession time: I'm a massive Starbucks fan.

My love affair with their coffee began in the early 2000s—Starbucks was my very first stop every time I landed in New York.

Why?

Because I was frequently visiting the Enneagram Institute up in Stone Ridge, NY. Coffee was my essential travel companion, fuelling my curiosity and those long, inspiring days at the Institute.

Fast-forward to today, and I still bounce between Starbucks and Motherland in Jozi.

Coffee (before 1pm) runs through my veins—I can easily have six cups in a morning. Ouch... did I just admit that?

Well, Mondays are for honesty and high energy, right?

What's Brewing at Starbucks?

Last week, more than 2,000 Starbucks baristas across the U.S. walked off the job.

Their protest?

A new, stricter dress code that left many feeling unseen and unheard. The new policy requires solid black shirts, limiting the self-expression that makes each barista unique.

For these employees, it's about more than uniforms—it's about having a voice in the workplace.

The Starbucks baristas showed us what that looks like in real life. They didn't just accept a top-down decision; they stood together, voiced their concerns, and advocated for a workplace that values individuality and respect.

Here are three ways to help your team #BounceForward:

1. Listen Before You Lead: Gather honest feedback before rolling out change. People support what they help create.

2. Celebrate Individuality: Uniforms (literal or metaphorical) can stifle the strengths that make your team unique. Let people bring their whole selves to work.

3. Build Trust Through Transparency: Share the "why" behind decisions, and be open to adjusting course. Trust grows when people feel included—not imposed upon.

Today's Message for us, as Leaders...As we sip our coffee in the morning, let's ask: Are we creating a space where our teams feels safe to speak up, share ideas, and help shape the future?

The workplace is always changing, but when we treat resilience as a collaborative, creative process, we don't just recover—we grow stronger.

Here's to courageous conversations, bold listening, and resilient leadership this week.

And yes, to that next cup of coffee!

#BounceForward

When your barista delivers more than just caffeine—they bring the smile that launches a thousand ideas! #CoffeeConnections

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