Denny’s CEO Christopher Bode is applying a vital piece of mentorship advice to steer the iconic diner chain through its current transformation.
Having taken the helm earlier this year, Bode shared with FOX Business that his leadership style is anchored by a simple principle learned from his former mentor, Jon Luther, the former CEO of Dunkin’ Brands.
“Manage what you must, not what you can,” Bode explained.
The Denny’s chief emphasized that he discusses this mantra with his leadership team every day to ensure the company remains concentrated on the high-impact priorities necessary for success.
Denny’s CEO Christopher Bode told FOX Business that a lesson from a longtime mentor has become a guiding principle. (Denny’s)
“I now talk to my team about it daily, because what it means is there’s so much that you can manage, but this is what you must manage in order to be able to change the trajectory of the business that you’re running,” Bode said.
“So we stay focused on that routinely.”
Bode warned that businesses often fall victim to “organizational creep,” a phenomenon where an entity becomes spread too thin by attempting too many projects simultaneously, ultimately losing sight of its primary objectives.
“That’s what really leads to the demise of organizations, because they try to be too much, too many, and accomplish too many things in a short period of time,” he noted.
Bode said staying focused means keeping the company centered on the five key pillars of “Project Grand Slam.” (Marcin Golba/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
To combat this creep, Bode is ensuring the company remains strictly aligned with “Project Grand Slam,” the central framework of Denny’s turnaround strategy.
“We keep the team laser-focused on that every day, and we don’t allow the creep to come in,” Bode said.
Furthermore, Bode stressed that effective leadership requires humility and active listening, especially when engaging with franchisees who carry significant financial responsibility.
“We have people that invest millions and millions of dollars, and you have to listen with a really good ear,” Bode said. “Those are the people that have taken all the risk. They sign the banknotes, they pay the people, they have utilities, they’ve all this stuff, all that pressure on them. I get a paycheck every week. They don’t.”
For those entering entrepreneurship or management, Bode’s primary recommendation is to maintain a sense of humility.
Bode said humility and listening are also critical to leadership. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
“Franchisee relationships are important, and also stay humble right at the end of the day, particularly as your career continues to evolve over time,” he said. “Don’t forget where you came from.”
Bode concluded by noting that his collaborative approach is driven by another fundamental belief:
“It’s the power of ‘we,’ not the individual ‘me,'” he said.