When it comes to company culture, Bill Phelps, the CEO of Dave’s Hot Chicken and former CEO of Wetzel’s Pretzels, doesn’t compromise.
The 69-year-old CEO says the biggest red flag he looks out for when running his business is “toxic” people — those who lack the empathy to support their teams and the generosity to share their success with others.
It’s an offense that can even lead to termination, he says.
“I take no pride in firing people, but I take pride in having an incredible culture,” Phelps tells CNBC Make It. “You have to do the things that are necessary to maintain that incredible culture.”
Toxic people will show up in every organization, Phelps says: “It’s human nature.” While tolerance for difficult behavior may vary, Phelps says he’s learned from experience that the best approach is to adopt a zero-tolerance policy.
