2026 Year in Review – 2026 Leadership Lessons in Bite-Size Nuggets
October 27, 2026
Every good store director I ever worked with had the same habit at the end of a long day. Before turning out the lights,
By Steve Black
Author · Leadership coach · Keynote speaker
In The 5 Rules, Steve distills 50+ years of leading tens of thousands of people into five expected behaviors that transform your culture — for yourself, your team and your family.
Too important to skim over — the foundation every other rule stands on.
Join the movement
Retailers & wholesalers
Service providers & associations
Years of leadership
Rouses · Sprouts · United
Author, coach & leader
Our mission
We transform the way people connect and collaborate — strengthening connections, developing leaders, and changing any culture with simple principles anyone can live by.
With nearly five decades in retail grocery — including President & COO roles at two chains — Steve believes a culture where everyone feels welcome brings out the best in people. Today he’s a Maxwell Leadership Certified coach, teacher, trainer and speaker, an NGA-endorsed leadership coach and a contributor to The Shelby Report.
Read the book · Live the framework
Leaders want results, but only 5% have plans in place to develop their teams. It doesn’t take a complex plan — just five expected behaviors, simple enough to remember and deep enough to change a culture.
Ownership
This simple rule is too important to skim over. Doing your job well — every day, for the people who rely on you — is the foundation every other rule stands on.
Respect
Kindness isn’t soft. It’s how leaders earn trust, how teams stay together under pressure, and how customers decide where to come back to.
Communication
Bad news doesn’t get better with age. Communicating early means problems get solved faster — and progress comes faster too.
Composure
Exaggerated facts and runaway feelings quietly erode a team. Stick to what’s true, keep emotions in proportion, and solve the real problem.
Integrity
In everything you do, you represent the brand — your company’s, your family’s and your own. Always, always, always assume the mic is hot.
“Its pages are filled with common sense, everyday leadership lessons that can truly change your world and your own inner circle.”
Dr. John C. Maxwell · New York Times bestselling author
Years leading teams in retail grocery
Team members led across the country
Of leaders have a plan to develop their teams
Languages — the book is in English & Spanish
Work with Steve
Business & leadership coaching for grocery and retail leaders — every engagement built on The 5 Rules, so your people leave with a shared language they can use on Monday morning.
The 5 Rules Book & Online Masterclass
Reignite team culture with Steve’s Maxwell-endorsed book and a guided online masterclass that turns The 5 Rules into daily habits for your leaders and teams.
1- or 2-Day Session, Powered by The Shelby Report
An immersive, on-site or regional leadership development experience for directors and store leaders — built on proven grocery retail leadership principles.
Grow Sales, Margins & Customer Engagement
Hands-on coaching engagements focused on measurable gains in sales performance, margin discipline, pricing strategy, and front-line customer engagement.
Strategy Sessions for the Year Ahead
Facilitated strategic planning sessions that align leadership teams around clear priorities, goals, and an actionable roadmap for the coming year.
One-on-One, Monthly Zoom Calls
Confidential, ongoing coaching for executives and rising leaders — monthly video calls focused on accountability, decision-making, and personal growth.
The 5 Rules on the road
Keynotes, Leadership Academies and store-level workshops across the country — from the NGA Show and WKU to Woodman’s, Houchens and Jumbo Foods.
Kentucky Center for Leadership · WKU
5 Rules kickoff · Bowling Green
The NGA Show 2026
Fireside conversation with Kristin Popp · NGA Leadership Conference, Washington, D.C.
Houchens Leadership Academy
Woodman’s Master Class
NGA-endorsed leadership coach
Connecting with leaders
The 5 Rules Masterclass
A self-paced video course that walks you and your leaders through each rule with Steve, so the whole team can live them out together.
Team pricing availableAsk about seats for your leaders
New · AI leadership guide
Steve can’t be in every store at once — so we built a guide that answers the way he coaches. Practical, honest and built on The 5 Rules.
Leadership is influence, and he's used his influence to lead tens of thousands of team members. I encourage you to walk slowly through the chapters of this book.
Dr. John C. Maxwell
NYT bestselling author · 35 million books sold
What leaders are saying
The 5 Rules shop
Watch · Office Hours
From the blog
Every good store director I ever worked with had the same habit at the end of a long day. Before turning out the lights,
Let's talk
Book a no-pressure call with Steve to talk through your goals — coaching, a workshop, a keynote or bulk copies of the book.
No spam ever — just updates
Rocky Mountain Gold lessons, new articles and event news from Steve.