When you’re running a fast-growing startup, it’s sometimes difficult to step back and think about a “softer” side of your business plan: the engagement of your employees. But if you ignore the emotional well-being of your staff, you’re making a big mistake, says Tom Davin, former CEO of Panda Restaurant Group, which employs over 18,000 people in over 1,250 Panda Express, Panda Inn, and Hibachi-San Asian restaurants in the U.S. and Puerto Rico. “It’s the soft stuff that drives the hard stuff,” says Davin.

In the below video, Davin talks about the crucial role of a startup’s founding entrepreneur or CEO to build a cohesive company culture. Davin believes CEOs should serve as “chief storytellers” in their companies, pointing out employees who have gone the extra mile in their jobs. With some 56% of US employees unhappy in their jobs today, according to Gallup, Davin says there is no time to waste; if your employees are not  fired up about working at your company, you won’t achieve the growth rates, customer satisfaction, and revenue goals you want.

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