Accelerate Time Flashcards
Core behaviors of accelerate time
- We operate in accelerated “Chewy Time” where we can accomplish more than others think is possible.
- We are comfortable with failure; we fail fast, learn, and iterate so we can make incremental progress quickly.
- We are diligent in establishing clear scope and objectives. This enables fast decision-making and action in pursuit of the best outcome
Tell me about a time when you were unstoppable in getting something done on schedule despite numerous ob-stacles.
Situation: As a shift lead at Starbucks, I encountered a challenging situation during a busy morning rush. District and regional managers would be visiting the store shortly, adding pressure to ensure everything ran smoothly.
Task: With limited staff and a flood of customers, it was crucial to maintain the store’s cleanliness, deliver excellent service, and create a positive impression for the district managers.
Action: To tackle the situation, I quickly assessed the team’s strengths and rearranged our roles accordingly and placed each team member in a position where they could excel and contribute effectively. I provided clear instructions and support and encouraged open communication throughout the shift.
Amid the chaos, I remained calm and focused, constantly motivating the team and acknowledging their efforts. I stepped in to assist wherever needed, taking on additional tasks and filling gaps to keep operations running smoothly.
Result: Despite the challenges, our team successfully navigated the intense rush, ensuring prompt service for the customers. The district managers were impressed by the team’s resilience and exceptional performance, which reflected well on the store and its leadership.
Takeaway: This experience highlighted my ability to adapt to demanding situations, organize and delegate tasks effectively, while maintaining a positive and supportive team environment. By demonstrating leadership, flexibility, and a solution-oriented mindset, I was able to overcome obstacles and achieve success in meeting the store’s goals and exceeding expectations.
Please provide an example of a time where you were given a deadline for a project or specific task that you or others did not believe was reasonably attainable. Did you attain it? If so, how? If not, what would you have done differently?
Tell me about a time when you had to make a quick decision with limited resources that impacted others.
Using the STAR method:
Situation: We received several orders that raised suspicions of potential fraud but it was not blocked by our fraud detection system
Task: I needed to make a decision quickly to minimize the risk and potential impact on the customer and the company.
Action: With limited information at hand, I immediately gathered all available data on the order, including customer details, payment information, and previous order history. I analyzed the patterns and inconsistencies, comparing them to our fraud prevention guidelines.
Considering the urgency, I consulted with the risk management team to discuss the situation and gather additional insights. We weighed the potential risks against the customer’s experience.
Given the circumstances, I decided to temporarily block the order pending further verification. I immediately reached out to the customer, explaining the situation and confirmed the order was unauthorized. I assured them that we were taking necessary measures to protect their account and
Result: The quick decision to block the order allowed us to mitigate potential risks on the customer’s account. It also provided an opportunity for further investigation and confirmation before proceeding with the transaction. The customer appreciated our proactive approach and understanding of their security concerns.
Although the decision had some short-term impact on the customer, such as a delay in their order, it ultimately protected their interests and minimized potential financial and repetitional risks for the company.
Tell me about a time that you accomplished something in a timeframe that you were told it couldn’t be done.
Situation: I decided to start an eBay business and sought advice from various sources. However, everyone I consulted with expressed doubts about achieving profitability within the first year.
Task: Despite the discouraging feedback, I was determined to prove them wrong and turn my eBay venture into a profitable business as quickly as possible.
Action: I conducted extensive research on successful eBay sellers, analyzed market trends, and identified high-demand products with favorable profit margins. I optimized my product listings, including appealing product descriptions and competitive pricing.
Result: As a result of my efforts, I achieved profitability within the first two months of operating my eBay business. I generated sales and earned a profit, exceeding the initial expectations set by others.
In this situation, my ability to adapt quickly, conduct thorough research, and implement effective strategies enabled me to accomplish what others believed couldn’t be done.
Please provide an example of a time when you were midway through a project and the outcome wasn’t what was anticipated? How did you shift yourself or the project team to focus on the learnings and adjust quickly?
Situation: As a shift leader at Starbucks, I was responsible for improving the store’s customer connection score by fostering meaningful connections with customers.
Task: After implementing strategies, the customer connection score showed minimal improvement in the first week.
Action: I gathered my team together and initiated a discussion about their approaches to making meaningful connections with customers. By encouraging everyone to share their insights and experiences, we gained valuable perspectives and ideas that we could apply going forward to improve our customer connection score
If faced with a similar situation in the future, I would take the same approach of facilitating open communication among the team to gather diverse perspectives and adjust our strategies accordingly. This collaborative effort proved effective in leveraging the team’s collective knowledge and fostering a positive shift in our outcomes.
Tell me about a time when you had to make a business-critical decision with little time. What gave you confi-dence to move forward? What was the benefit of moving forward without the full plan or solution?
Situation: As a shift leader at Starbucks during a busy morning rush, I realized that I needed to place orders for the following days within a very limited timeframe to prevent stock shortages.
Task: With little time available, I had to make a business-critical decision on which items to order without the opportunity to thoroughly analyze forecasting data.
Action: I prioritized ordering the items that I knew were in high demand at my store, ensuring that we would have sufficient stock to meet customer needs. I then proceeded to place orders for other items, prioritizing them based on their importance to our sales.
Result: By quickly making the necessary ordering decisions, our store received the essential supplies to meet customer demand. Moving forward without a complete plan or solution allowed us to avoid stock shortages and maintain satisfactory sales and could continue operating without significant disruptions.
While a more comprehensive analysis and planning would have been ideal, the time constraints required a quick decision-making process to prevent negative impacts on sales and customer satisfaction.
The confidence to move forward came from my knowledge of the store’s best-selling items and my experience in managing stock levels during busy periods.
Tell me about a time where the timeline was significantly reduced on a project you were supporting. What steps did you take to not compromise quality? End result? Key takeaways?
Situation: I was supporting a project that faced a significant reduction in the timeline due to high queues and the need to address a specific queue promptly.
Task: My task was to efficiently handle the incidents in the queue without compromising the quality of my work.
Action: To address this challenge, I maintained a calm demeanor and adopted a systematic approach. I tackled each incident one by one, focusing on resolving them effectively. I managed my time wisely by setting small, attainable goals for each incident. This approach helped me stay focused, boost my confidence, and maintain a consistent pace throughout the project.
Result: By employing this strategy, I successfully addressed the incidents in the queue within the shortened timeline. Despite the time constraints, I ensured that the quality of my work remained uncompromised. The end result was a timely resolution of the queue, meeting the expectations of the higher-ups.
Key takeaways: This experience taught me the importance of staying composed and breaking down complex tasks into manageable steps. By setting small goals, I was able to maintain focus, track progress, and prevent the compromise of quality. Additionally, effective time management and prioritization are crucial in meeting accelerated deadlines without sacrificing the desired outcomes.
Give me an example of a time when you were able to deliver an important project under a tight deadline. What sacrifices did you have to make to meet the deadline? How did they impact the final deliverables?
When was the last time you have delivered a result ahead of schedule, or in a much shorter lead time? How you achieve it? Result? If you need to do it again, would you do it differently?
The last time I delivered a result ahead of schedule was when I was assigned a batch of accounts to review within a week. I completed the task by mid-week, finishing ahead of the given deadline. To achieve this, I worked diligently and put in some extra effort each day to ensure I stayed ahead of schedule in case any challenges arose. I managed my time effectively and focused on the task at hand.
As for doing things differently if I had to do it again, I wouldn’t change my approach. The strategy of working diligently and allocating extra time allowed me to complete the task ahead of schedule without compromising the quality of my work. I believe that maintaining a proactive and dedicated mindset is key to consistently delivering results ahead of schedule.
Tell me about a time where your planned schedule to meet deadlines and priorities were disrupted by a complete curveball. What was the situation and what happened next?
Situation: I had a planned schedule to prepare my Starbucks store for a district manager and regional manager visit. However, the morning of the visit, multiple unexpected challenges arose, causing us to fall behind schedule.
Task: My objective was to address the curveball situation and ensure that the store was cleaned and ready for the visit, while still maintaining efficient and satisfactory customer service.
Action: Faced with the unexpected surge in customers and a lack of time, I quickly assessed the situation and rearranged the team’s responsibilities. I delegated specific tasks to each team member, focusing on the most critical areas that needed attention for the visit. I emphasized the importance of maintaining quality service despite the added pressure.
Result: Through effective delegation and teamwork, we were able to overcome the curveball and meet both our customer service and cleanliness objectives. The store was cleaned and presentable for the district manager and regional manager’s visit, showcasing our commitment to maintaining high standards.
Example of a time that you forged ahead with an action or initiative without complete information. Maybe it worked and maybe it didn’t, but what did you learn?
Situation: As a shift leader at Starbucks during a busy morning rush, I realized that I needed to place orders for the following days within a very limited timeframe to prevent stock shortages.
Task: With little time available, I had to make a business-critical decision on which items to order without the opportunity to thoroughly analyze forecasting data.
Action: I prioritized ordering the items that I knew were in high demand at my store, ensuring that we would have sufficient stock to meet customer needs. I then proceeded to place orders for other items, prioritizing them based on their importance to our sales.
Result: By quickly making the necessary ordering decisions, our store received the essential supplies to meet customer demand. Moving forward without a complete plan or solution allowed us to avoid stock shortages and maintain satisfactory sales and could continue operating without significant disruptions.
While a more comprehensive analysis and planning would have been ideal, the time constraints required a quick decision-making process to prevent negative impacts on sales and customer satisfaction.
Tell me about a time when you needed to complete a project or task with business partners and other stakeholders in a short window of time. How did you manage to accelerate time?
Situation: During a period of high queues, there was a request from higher-level stakeholders to clear a specific queue within a short timeframe.
Task: I knew that in order to complete it within this timeframe, I would need to work much faster than usual without sacrificing quality.
Action: To address the challenge, I maintained a calm and focused mindset. I approached the task by breaking it down into smaller, manageable increments. I allocated my time wisely and set attainable goals for small sections of incidents in the queue. This allowed me to maintain confidence and momentum as I progressed through the tasks.
Result: By effectively managing my time and setting small goals, I was able to boost my overall CPH. This approach ensured that I worked hard to meet expectations of the stakeholders and achieved the project’s objectives.
(PL) Tell me of a time where you were leading a team and had to pivot quickly. What did you do?
see answer about Starbucks DMs
