Leaders have developed their own stealthy tests to spot high-potential employees ready to move up the next rung of the ladder. Chipotle’s chief operating officer, Jason Kidd, scouts the next cohort of leaders by breaking bread with his staffers.
Every week, Kidd rounds up three to four members of the regional market in the town he’s visiting. During the 90-minute meals, the Chipotle exec not only bonds with the staff and strengthens the stores’ routine operations but also uses the time to scout promotions within the company. The COO typically visits around a dozen stores weekly, in various locations—giving a wide swath of employees a shot at making an impression.
