Own It: Decision-Making & Leadership
Own It: Decision-Making & Leadership
As the Facility Manager, you are expected to make decisions and lead the operation in real time.
You are responsible for taking action, solving problems, and maintaining standards without waiting for direction.
You do not wait to be told what to do; you lead the operation in real time.
Clear ownership allows the operation to move efficiently. Clear escalation ensures the right issues are addressed at the right level.
What You Fully Own
You are responsible for making decisions in the following areas without needing approval:
If it happens on your floor, you own it.
People
Hire, train, coach, and hold accountable
Schedules
Assign roles and adjust staffing throughout the day
Address performance and behavior in real time
Enforce expectations and standards
Production
Manage workflow and line movement
Adjust staffing based on flow and bottlenecks
Maintain efficiency while protecting quality
Standards & Compliance (Execution)
Enforce HACCP, SSOP, GMP, and safety practices
Identify gaps and make recommendations for HACCP and SOP improvements
Correct issues immediately when identified
Ensure the operation is running to standard at all times
Problem Solving
Address issues as they arise
Make real-time decisions to keep operations moving
Fix problems before they grow
How We Lead
At Steadfast Farms, this is how we lead and make decisions, every day:
Act → Communicate → Coach
This standard applies at every level of the operation.
Act
Take action immediately to correct the issue and protect the operation
Communicate
Inform management to ensure visibility, alignment, and tracking
Coach
Use the situation to reinforce standards and improve the team
Act. Don’t Wait.
The only unacceptable outcome is no action. Act.
You are expected to make decisions in real time, using your judgment and the standards of this operation.
When to Escalate
Escalate when:
There is risk to USDA compliance or inspection status
Product safety or customer trust could be impacted
There is significant financial loss, damage, or deviation
A situation falls outside normal operating conditions
You are unsure of the correct path forward after initial action
What Not to Do
Do not wait when action is required
Do not ignore issues or assume they will resolve themselves
Do not operate outside of standards
Do not rely on escalation instead of leadership
Do not delay action waiting for perfect information
Moving Forward
Now that you understand what you own and how to lead, the next section defines what success looks like.
This is the standard you are expected to meet, every day.