The Unconventional Leadership Playbook: How Handwritten Notes and Breakroom Lunches Are Driving Billion-Dollar Success

The Analog Advantage in a Digital World

While artificial intelligence and digital communication platforms dominate modern business discourse, a quiet revolution in leadership is unfolding in breakrooms and through handwritten correspondence. Across multiple industries, successful CEOs are rediscovering that human connection—not technological efficiency—often drives the most meaningful business results. These leaders are proving that in an age of digital overload, the most powerful leadership tools might be a pen, paper, and genuine presence., according to industry developments

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The CEO Who Writes 500+ Thank You Notes

Chris Tomasso, CEO of the billion-dollar breakfast and lunch chain First Watch, has transformed personal recognition into a strategic advantage. Each month, Tomasso dedicates time to handwriting congratulatory notes to employees celebrating significant milestones—from dishwashers marking decades of service to cooks achieving career landmarks., according to industry experts

“I just love people that pick their lane, they love it, and they don’t want to do anything else,” Tomasso explained in his Fortune interview. His philosophy centers on rewarding loyalty, longevity, and the unique contributions each employee makes to the company‘s success.

What makes Tomasso’s approach particularly impactful is its consistency. With over 15,000 employees across the organization, he has personally written more than 500 notes—each one acknowledging specific contributions rather than offering generic praise., as previous analysis, according to recent developments

Breakroom Diplomacy: Where Real Connections Form

Perhaps even more surprising to new employees is Tomasso’s habit of eating lunch in the breakroom alongside staff. “I try to minimize the CEO title as best I can when I’m interacting with people,” he noted. “I eat lunch in the break room with everybody, which always, for whatever reason, blows new employees away.”, according to recent studies

This simple act of sharing meals creates what organizational psychologists call “equal footing moments”—opportunities for genuine connection that transcend corporate hierarchy. Tomasso sees this accessibility as fundamental to his leadership approach: “Our job is to create an environment where our employees are happy and feel appreciated and they take care of the rest.”, according to market trends

The Ripple Effect of Appreciation

Tomasso’s people-first philosophy traces back to a formative experience early in his career. At 26, he received a handwritten thank-you note from his CEO at Hard Rock Café—a letter he has preserved to this day. When he assumed leadership at First Watch in 2018, he committed to carrying forward that same spirit of personal recognition., according to expert analysis

The impact of such gestures extends beyond momentary goodwill. Research in organizational behavior consistently shows that personalized recognition significantly boosts employee engagement, retention, and performance. In service industries particularly, where employee satisfaction directly correlates with customer experience, these human touches deliver measurable business benefits.

Industry Leaders Embracing the Personal Touch

Tomasso isn’t alone in recognizing the enduring power of handwritten communication. Geoffroy van Raemdonck, CEO of luxury retailer Neiman Marcus, maintained a practice of sending three to five handwritten thank-you notes daily before the pandemic. Despite shifting to hybrid work arrangements, he continues the tradition through adapted methods while preserving the sentiment.

“I was taught by great mentors of the power of sending a thank-you note,” van Raemdonck told Fortune. “It’s really important for me—the moment of ‘thank you’—because I know what it is to receive a thank-you, to be acknowledged.”

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Similarly, Chevron Chairman and CEO Mike Wirth prioritizes “old-school, on paper” messages to employees across the global energy corporation. “I think back to when I was early in my career, and if a CEO had sent me a letter and actually knew what I was doing, it would have been a really big deal for me,” Wirth reflected on the How Leaders Lead podcast.

The Cognitive Benefits of Analog Practices

The preference for handwriting extends beyond interpersonal communication into problem-solving methodologies. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, representing a younger generation of leaders, frequently turns to pen and paper when tackling complex challenges.

“I think of writing as externalized thinking,” Altman explained on the How I Write podcast. “I still, if I have a very hard problem, or if I feel a little bit confused about something, have not found anything better to do than to sit down and make myself write it out.”

Neuroscience research supports this approach, demonstrating that handwriting engages different cognitive processes than typing, potentially enhancing creativity and problem-solving capabilities.

The Future of Leadership in an AI-Driven World

As artificial intelligence transforms business operations and communication, the most effective leaders are doubling down on precisely what technology cannot replicate: genuine human connection, personalized recognition, and moments of authentic presence. The handwritten note and shared breakroom meal represent more than nostalgic gestures—they’re strategic choices that build organizational culture from the ground up.

Tomasso’s approach at First Watch demonstrates that leadership impact often lies in small, consistent actions rather than grand, occasional gestures. In an increasingly automated world, the human touch may become the ultimate competitive advantage.

As these leaders prove, the most advanced leadership strategy might be remembering what it felt like to be starting out—and ensuring today’s employees feel seen, valued, and connected to the people leading their organizations.

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