4 traits Chipotle's COO looks for in future leaders during weekly dinners
Informal meals reveal promotion-worthy talent in the restaurant giant.
1Leadership scouting over meals
Chipotle COO Jason Kidd discovers future leaders through weekly dinners with 3-4 employees from different locations. These 90-minute sessions strengthen team bonds while evaluating promotion potential. In 2025 alone, the company promoted 23,000 employees, with all top roles filled internally.
2Team player mentality first
Kidd's primary criterion is team compatibility. 'We run a people business,' says the COO, prioritizing staff who support colleagues. The Taco Bell veteran values accountability - those who own their performance results demonstrate leadership potential according to his assessment.
3Proactive mindset matters
The third key trait is problem anticipation. 'We need preventers, not firefighters,' Kidd emphasizes, advancing those who solve issues before they escalate. Despite slowing promotion trends industry-wide, Chipotle's investment in internal talent development stands out as a strategic differentiator.
4Solution-oriented approach
The final critical quality is problem-solving ability. Employees who arrive with solutions, not just problems, fast-track their promotions. Kidd's method uniquely observes authentic behaviors in informal settings, contrasting with traditional performance reviews.
5Industry's promotion slowdown
Gusto's 2025 research shows promotion rates at a five-year low (10%). Economic uncertainty and job market conditions make companies cautious. While firms like Accenture mandate AI usage for promotions, Cisco's CEO measures team approval for advancement decisions.
6Power of informal assessment
Kidd's dinner strategy proves the effectiveness of evaluating leadership potential in casual environments. This approach to identifying individual talent in a 135,000-employee organization offers an alternative to traditional hiring processes. The business world increasingly favors 'real-life' evaluation methods.
Original article: Fortune | FORTUNE — Chipotle COO'sunun lider adaylarında aradığı 4 özellik