Culture Secrets
Culture is what causes things to happen inside an organization - both good and bad. It's the heart and guts of a company and it is what determines is they are successful or not. Join interntional best-selling author, speaker and culture expert Chellie Phillips as she delves into what makes people-centered cultures in the workplace unique. She packs each episode with ideas, strategies and real-world learning to help you build workplaces where both employees and companies thrive.
Culture Secrets
5 for 55 - Spaghetti Leadership
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A simple lunch order turned into an unforgettable leadership lesson.
In this episode of Five at 55, Chellie Phillips shares a surprising restaurant experience involving cinnamon… in the spaghetti. What started as an unexpected twist on a classic dish became a powerful reminder about communication, expectations, and trust.
When leaders fail to give people a heads-up about change, surprises can create confusion and frustration. But when we communicate clearly and upfront—even about things that may feel uncomfortable—we build trust and credibility.
Through humor and a very real story, Chellie explores why clear communication matters and how even small moments can reveal important leadership truths.
Because hidden “cinnamon moments” break trust—but transparency builds it.
No speed limit on growth.
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Host: Intro
Welcome back to Five at 55—short reflections, real stories, and lessons learned along the way.
No speed limit on growth.
CHELLIE:
I learned something important about leadership… from spaghetti.
And just to be clear—I was not cooking.
I was a patron.
At a restaurant.
Ordering what felt like the safest option on the menu.
Spaghetti. Simple. Classic. Hard to mess up.
Wrong.
One bite in and—SURPRISE—there was cinnamon in the sauce.
Cinnamon.
Not on top. Not as a garnish.
In. The. Spaghetti.
Now listen, I like cinnamon… in the right context.
This was not that context.
My coworkers said the look on my face was the real entertainment.
They tried it too.
They made the same face.
We all agreed—it was a culinary crime.
Here’s where the lesson comes in.
Before ordering, I actually asked the waitress about the two spaghetti options on the menu.
She said, “Oh, no difference.”
Meanwhile… she clearly knew this was a “you either love it or hate it” situation.
All she had to say was one sentence:
“Just so you know, our spaghetti has a unique twist—some folks love it, some don’t.”
That’s it.
One sentence.
A simple heads-up.
And that’s the leadership lesson.
People don’t like surprises—especially ones they didn’t sign up for.
If you know something is coming that might feel different, unexpected, or uncomfortable—say it.
Don’t ignore the question.
Don’t assume everyone likes the same thing the same way.
And don’t withhold information because it might be awkward.
Hidden cinnamon moments are how trust gets broken.
Clear communication—especially upfront—is how trust gets built.
So whether you’re leading a team, managing change, or serving customers—give people the heads-up they deserve.
And if you ever see me ordering spaghetti again…
please check on me.
No speed limit on growth.
