Founderology Forum

Building your restaurant's championship team to win

The same principles that create winning teams on the field can transform your business into a powerhouse. Let's talk the Xs and Os of building a championship team.

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April 17, 2025 by Kathleen Wood — Founder, K. Wood Partners

What is the secret sauce in a championship team, a leading brand, and growing concept? It's people specifically: Building a championship team.
As a passionate football fan, the upcoming draft is the perfect reminder of what it takes to build a team of champions. Beyond the game's excitement, it's a front-row seat to leadership excellence and teamwork mastery.

The same principles that create winning teams on the field can transform your business into a powerhouse. Let's talk the Xs and Os of building a championship team.

Building your championship team playbook

1. Draft your all-stars: Evaluate your players
A great coach knows success starts with putting the right players in the right positions:
Leaders (Quarterbacks): Self-driven leaders who thrive under pressure and move the team forward to achieve results.
Managers (Running Backs): The consistent drivers who execute the plays and deliver results.
Support Roles (Offensive Line): The unsung heroes, keeping operations steady and protecting the vision.
Development Opportunities (Practice Squad): Emerging talent ready to shine with the right coaching.
Misaligned Players: Those who aren't aligned with your culture or mission. Coaching may help, but tough calls are sometimes necessary.
Action Step: Evaluate if you have your team members in the best positions for success. If not, make the moves to get the best players in positions where they can excel and win.

2. Scout talent like a pro: The 3Cs
Your team deserves the same rigor of assessment. Utilize culture guru Jim Knight's Three C's to evaluate every team member on the following:

Culture Fit: Do they embody your core values and elevate team energy?
Competency Fit: Do they deliver at the level your business needs?
Capability Fit: Are they built to grow and meet future challenges?

Action Step: Evaluate each team member on the Three C's and rate them 1-5. Use this quick scorecard to guide coaching, development, or hiring decisions.

3. Align every player to the vision
In football, every play is laser-focused on one goal: the end zone. In your business, every team member must know their role in driving toward your vision. Be clear about what winning looks like for you and your team. Focus everyone and every play on getting to your "end zone."
Action Step: Host "team huddles." Reignite passion for your vision and clarify how everyone's role impacts it, when people know their "why," their performance skyrockets.

Championship team assessment scorecard

Use this scorecard to take your evaluations deeper and build a culture of continuous improvement:

4. Lead like a championship coach
The greatest coaches inspire greatness in others. You don't need a massive budget to inspire and motivate a team, the biggest investment is your commitment and time. Especially, if you are a Founder this is about connecting with your "team" the leaders who report directly to you!

Connect Regularly: Schedule consistent 1:1s for feedback and development.
Keep the Vision Alive: Share your vision in weekly, monthly, and quarterly reviews.
Offer Growth Opportunities: Career growth isn't limited to new locations. It includes expanded responsibilities, new skills, and development that prepare your team to take your business to the next level.

Action Step: Commit to a regular schedule of meetings to discuss priorities and achievement. Create an individual development plan for each team member. Focus on one strength to amplify and one improvement to tackle. Remember: Champions are built through consistent practice and feedback.

Bringing it back to winning in business

Football is one of my favorite sports, but it's also my favorite metaphor for leadership and success. Just like championship teams thrive on a shared vision, action playbooks, and championship teamwork, your business can reach new levels by following these same principles for success. Enjoy the draft and be inspired to Build Your Championship Team!

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About Kathleen Wood

Kathleen Wood is the Founder of Kathleen Wood Partners (KWP), an innovative and award-winning growth strategy firm dedicated to propelling Founder-led businesses to new levels of success. Kathleen and her team work with Founders in scaling and accelerating their visions into actionable results through strategic growth solutions, operational excellence, competitive sales strategies, and transformative leadership development. The KWP expertise includes range of Founder-led businesses in the restaurant, hospitality, technology, and manufacturing industries.

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