Leonard Jr. honored with leadership
award
NORWALK
By CHRIS BOSAK
Hour Staff Writer
More than 30 years ago Stew Leonard Sr. signed up his teen-aged
son for Dale Carnegie training. The son, Stew Leonard Jr., did not
want to go, but did not have a say in the matter.
The human relations principals Stew Jr. learned from the training
provided the foundation by which he runs Stew Leonard's dairy
stores. Stew's now has four stores in Connecticut and New York and
employs nearly 2,500 people. It is consistently ranked high on
Fortune magazine's Best Companies to Work For lists.
Dale Carnegie training continues to be a big part of the culture at
Stew Leonard's as five to 10 employees take the course each year.
In fact, more than 500 employees have graduated from the training
since the 1970s.
On Monday morning, Stew Leonard Jr. was presented with the 2008
Dale Carnegie Leadership Award during a breakfast gathering at
Norwalk Inn with about 50 of his employees on hand. Bob Dickson,
president of Dale Carnegie of Western Connecticut, and Michael
Crom, chief learning officer for Dale Carnegie, presented the
award.
It is safe to say Leonard's reluctance toward the Dale Carnegie
training is well behind him. In fact, his own children have either
taken the course or will take the course soon, he said.
"I never imaged back when I was 17 years old that I'd have to speak
so much (in public)," Leonard Jr. said. "You learn the basics of how
to speak in front of a group. It also teaches you to have a positive
outlook on the events that happen in your life every day. You can't
sugarcoat everything, but you train your mind that when a difficult
situation happens, you tell yourself that something good will come
out of it.
"We try to do that in our stores with our customers," he added.
"Dale Carnegie teaches you to not be defensive. Try to help that
customer. I'm honored to get this award. The training has been a
part of Stew Leonard's for a long time. I have my father to thank for
that."
Dickson kicked off the breakfast event with a half-hour refresher
course of some of the Dale Carnegie principles, including visualizing
success, acting enthusiastic and to smile.
"When you smile you are approachable," Dickson said, "and when
you're approachable good things come to you."
Dickson pointed out that only two other Connecticut companies
have been presented with the award: Mark Kelly of Safety Marking
Corporation in 2007 and Greenwich Hospital in 2005.
"When you look at the Stew Leonard's organization, you see the
embodiment of Dale Carnegie principles," Dickson said. "They live it
and they work it. It gives you (as a customer) a reason to want to
come back. It also makes it an enjoyable place to work."
Dale Carnegie Training, which boasts more than six million
graduates, develops professional skills such as leadership,
communication, sales and presentations.
On the Web:
www.stewleonards.com
www.westernct.dalecarnegie.com