Chipotle's COO says he looks for this problem-solving skill in future leaders

• Today’s tip to get better at work: Get better at showing you have leadership potential.
• Chipotle’s chief operating officer, Jason Kidd, said he looks to promote workers who solve problems.
• Instead of coming to your boss with what went wrong, go into conversations with a solution.

Get better at: Showing leadership potential

Today’s move

If you want to get promoted, don’t just bring your boss problems — come to them with possible solutions when something goes wrong.

Jason Kidd, the chief operating officer at Chipotle, visits roughly a dozen restaurants every week and he uses team dinners in every location as a way to scout talent for promotions. He said he looks for four qualities in the people he promotes, including how they respond when things go wrong.

Why it works

At any company, including a fast-moving restaurant like Chipotle, problems are bound to arise. Kidd looks for leaders who can anticipate issues, take ownership, and find a solution.

Those employees show they aren’t waiting around for problems to land in their lap. They’re actively taking initiative to improve the workplace.

Try it today

The next time an issue comes up at work, take a few minutes to brainstorm possible solutions.

When you approach your manager, tell them what went wrong, a couple of possible solutions, and your recommendation for what to do next. That demonstrates leadership and initiative.

The bottom line

You aren’t directly responsible for every problem that comes up at work. However, by showing your boss that you’re actively working to avoid adding another task to their to-do list, you’re helping make their job easier and showing them that you can handle more responsibility.

Source

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Read the original article on Business Insider