The 51% Shake Shack Rule

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Shake Shack 51% rule for hiring soul over skill

Danny Meyer built Shake Shack into a $4 billion company by hiring for soul over skill.

His framework is called "the 51% Rule." When evaluating candidates, 51% of the weighting goes to emotional and hospitality skills. Only 49% to technical ability.

He tells every new hire the same thing. "For your salary review, 51 percent is set by how you're faring at the emotional skills. 49 percent is tied to technical performance."

Meyer looks for six specific traits.

→ Optimistic warmth
→ Curious intelligence
→ Strong work ethic
→ Empathy
→ Self-awareness
→ Integrity

"Competence we can teach. Attitude is ingrained."

Most companies screen for skills first and hope personality follows. Meyer screens for personality first and trusts the skills will come.

What Is TRM?

Intel's legendary CEO Andy Grove believed the same person might need micromanagement on Monday and full autonomy on Friday.

The variable was the task, not the person.

He called this framework Task-Relevant Maturity (TRM). Someone with decades of experience might be a beginner when handed an unfamiliar project. A junior employee might have deep expertise in a specific tool or process.

The framework adjusts oversight based on expertise in a specific task.

→ Low TRM means step-by-step guidance, frequent check-ins, detailed corrections

→ High TRM means independent decision-making, proactive problem-solving, minimal oversight

Think of learning to drive. At first, you need constant supervision in an empty parking lot. Over time, you're navigating highways alone.

Your job is to recognize and develop TRM so your assistant can operate at a higher level over time.

The full framework breakdown can be found here.