How Emotionally Intelligent Leaders Use the 'McDonald's Salary Rule' to Calm Anxiety and Inspire Genuine Loyalty

There is a lot of concern in the world right now. Lots of anxiety. Maybe you wear one yourself.

If so, here's something to know. Because people with very high emotional intelligence understand three key things about anxiety:

First, it is rooted in emotion. This is the link between fear and imagination. Second, it's contagious. Nothing spreads worry like other people worry. And third, sometimes the best way to resolve your fears is to find ways to help others overcome theirs.

With that, let's talk about Tom Philiou, owner of a McDonald's restaurant in Mayfield Heights, Ohio. You might recognize its name, or the city, and certainly "McDonald's".

Philiou made headlines earlier this month after it emerged he continued to pay his employees full wages for three months, even when he closed his restaurant for renovation.

It wasn't cheap. And, there are some really smart, objective business reasons why someone might do that. For one thing, if you don't pay your employees, they will leave! Then you'll have the challenge of replacing them when you're ready to reopen.

But, as surprised as I was to find an incredible example of emotional intelligence at McDonald's, several things struck me about Philiou's story.

There's the question he said he asked himself when he realized how long the renovation would take, according to The Washington Post: "How are these people going to get out without a paycheck?"

Here's the answer he found immediately: "We'll pay everyone in full."

And, there's the detail I found buried in many reports about Philiou's decision, which had to do with how long some of his employees worked for him:

Ed Kocsis, 55, general manager of the restaurant, who started working there in 1982; Mary Conti, 78, manager, who started working there in 1977. "Dozens" of other personnel, according to the Post, have worked for Philou for decades or more, "many of them working their way up from maintenance to management positions."

"Our turnover is very low," Kocsis said, adding, "I think it's because they like working here and they're treated with respect. They feel good working here, so they want to stay."

Why do people usually work? They do it for the money, of course; most of us have to work to live. But they also do it to meet emotional needs: purpose, community, trust.

Philiou's decision to renovate could have upset part of this equation: the confidence of his employees seemed ripe to be replaced by anxiety.

However, his reaction was not just commercial; it was emotionally intelligent.

People noticed. The workers were grateful. ("Down and...extremely grateful," Kocsis told the Post. "I thought that was fabulous.")

Damn, among all things, a Reddit thread full of praise:

"I grew up here and always heard that the owner of this McDonalds was a great man!" "I used to live here and my wife and I would always say it's the best McDonald's we've ever been to. Now I understand why. Having a good owner who values ​​his employees goes a long way." "Tony...reigns and this McDonald's, no kidding, is the best I've ever been to."

We sometimes put names on these behaviors to make them easier to remember...