Studio Movie GrillReal Transformation
How the 3 Vital Questions® turned around runaway turnover at a fast-growing in-theater dining company — saving over $1 million a year.
The Challenge: Build a Culture of Long-Term Shared Purpose
Studio Movie Grill's mission is to "open hearts and minds, one story at a time." As an in-theater dining company, stories unfold on the big screen daily — but their mission runs much deeper. Studio Movie Grill is a company that genuinely puts people first, valuing employee experience above profits.
With a 30 percent year-over-year growth rate, the company was experiencing inevitable friction between new voices coming in and internal experience. "We realized our growth was creating the conditions for drama and we needed a compass to help navigate the waters of this change," says Brian Hood, Vice President of Operations.
Brian was familiar with The Power of TED* from a Stagen Leadership Academy course he took and eventually facilitated alongside Sheri Lawrence, now VP of Organizational Development. When the 3 Vital Questions® work was launched, Sheri made the introduction to the certified TED* facilitators. "We attended a 3VQ workshop and the rest is history," Brian says.
Brian and Sheri were drawn to the organizational applications of 3VQ and its connection with the individual focus of TED*. They understood how to change mindsets individually — but not organization-wide. The company, they realized, didn't yet have a collective desired outcome. That changed after a 3VQ workshop with the company's general managers.
"We realized our growth was creating the conditions for drama and we needed a compass to help navigate the waters of this change."
Key Issues
- Rapid Growth Friction
- Missing Shared Purpose
- High Turnover
Context
30% year-over-year growth was creating the conditions for drama — tension between new voices and institutional experience, with no collective desired outcome.
The Response: 3 Vital Questions
Studio Movie Grill began using the 3VQ principles throughout the organization. "The workshop helped us organize collectively," Brian says. "We gained clarity around our desired outcome: to be a well-respected leader in the in-theater dining segment that works seamlessly and collaboratively together." Knowing this, they could identify what to keep doing and what needed to change.
"The workshop was transformative — not just in the teachings themselves, but also in the tools left with us." Company leadership began using the 3VQ five-step planning process, which then rippled out to department leaders and their teams. The process takes them step-by-step through the 3 Vital Questions, helping them reflect on where their focus is, how they are relating, and what baby steps they're taking toward the desired outcome.
Along the way, 3VQ helps Studio Movie Grill assess their current reality and whether they are truly living their purpose. "It almost creates its own immune system," Brian says. "When people are victims, it sticks out like a sore thumb."
Transforming drama in the workplace is a constant effort — one that takes deliberate practice to keep the muscles exercised. "We see the 3 Vital Questions as the long game, the infinite game. It's ongoing. We're constantly evolving."
"The 3 Vital Questions — it almost creates its own immune system. When people are victims, it sticks out like a sore thumb. We see it as the long game, the infinite game."
The Results: A Dramatic Turnover Downturn
Management turnover rate
Dropped from 42% to 18% over three years — less than half the industry average
Annual savings
In reduced turnover costs alone, not counting productivity and expertise gains from longer tenure
Internal hire target
The company is trending toward 80% internal hires — a direct result of deep investment in people
Studio Movie Grill made a commitment to enable the level of knowledge and skills that would make their people want to stay. Starting with the hiring process, they identified qualities and built assessments guided by the TED* work. They then designed a training process that introduces TED* and the development path that includes 3VQ.
The effect on employee retention was stunning. Over a three-year period, management turnover dropped from 42 to 18 percent — saving more than $1 million annually, not counting the intangible gains in productivity and expertise from longer tenure. Studio Movie Grill has been running less than half the industry average.
Even more telling: people who attended the 3VQ and TED* Stagen training made up less than five percent of turnover. The company is now trending toward 80 percent internal hires.
"But it was never for financial gain," says Brian. "The desired outcome was just to lean in to developing people. The more we invest in people, the less likely they are to leave." Well proven — in just three years.
"TED* and 3VQ are now woven through every team member touch point. When your team members know you want to help them improve their lives, not just skills at work, it changes the dynamics and improves culture."
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