Building a Strong Team: San Pedro Fish Market CEO Mike Ungaro

Ron, Deb and Mike Ungaro

Building a Strong Team: San Pedro Fish Market CEO Mike Ungaro

Ep. 82 - Building a Strong Team: San Pedro Fish Market CEO Mike Ungaro

The challenge with infusing 'family' into business culture is finding the balance between nurturing relationships and still maintaining professionalism. It’s about finding the balance between conceptualizing work as a family and creating a professionally run family business. Mike was able to infuse the values of family and hard work into the company's core, creating a distinctly strong team and work culture that linked employees across all levels.

Scaling the Business While Building Trust

The shift that Mike's business experienced as it grew and evolved in size required intentional actions to ensure that trust was maintained in the culture of the company. For Mike, the focus was not only on doing things right but also on empowering every team member and letting them know that they have the answer to many of the challenges that arise.

Trust and effective communication are critical components of a healthy company culture. Mike implemented methodologies such as the Macklin Method and the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) to foster trust and enable open dialogue within his teams. These practices provided employees with a platform to express their ideas and concerns, creating a sense of belonging and empowerment.

Balancing Hard Work with Job Satisfaction

While hard work is essential for success, it is equally vital to ensure job satisfaction. Mike acknowledges that a culture solely focused on hard work may lead to burnout and a lack of fulfillment. He recognizes the importance of creating a work environment where employees feel satisfied, valued, and recognized for their contributions. Job satisfaction can be achieved by providing avenues for growth, professional development, and a supportive work-life balance.

Envisioning the Future of His Business

Mike emphasizes his focus on leadership and steering the brand to higher heights. He also regards the role of technology, especially during the pandemic when many businesses had to shift their operations online. 

He envisions a future where every role within the company is held by individuals who are either highly accomplished or open to continuous learning. He believes this will build a culture where teamwork overrides individualistic tendencies and employees work together towards a common goal. 

Summing It Up

Ultimately, Mike's journey and experiences provide aspiring business leaders and veterans alike, a reflective view on how culture influences the performance of an organization. The most remarkable lessons potentially reside in his ability to adapt, evolve, and incorporate a balance of hard work, family, and professionalism into his business culture, creating an environment where employees are empowered and feel like they belong. 

Every organization and business can take a page from Mike Ungaro’s book. There are always opportunities to build a stronger, more inclusive, and satisfying work culture, drive growth, and create more significant opportunities for everyone involved.

To learn more about the Imaginal Community: https://imaginalcommunity.mn.co/

To learn more about creating a better corporate culture in the workplace, head over to www.macklinconnection.com

Episode Summary

Building a Strong Team: San Pedro Fish Market CEO Mike Ungaro

Ron, Deb, and guest Mike Ungaro, CEO of San Pedro Fish Market, discuss ideal practices for organizational changes and employee management to foster a more conducive working environment. Mike gives examples of the cultural shifts happening within the various outlets of his enterprise and the different management strategies implemented at each location.