EXECUTIVE SUITE: Jim McCann, 1-800-Flowers.com

Jim McCann's first experience as a supervisor was to oversee teenagers in a group home.

"They told me I was going to be the boss," he says. "What I learned about 30 minutes later is, whoa - this is not the case here."

McCann, who in 1976 went on to start 1-800-Flowers.com, based in Carle Place, says while the goals in social services and retail may be different, "the playbook is pretty much the same."

His approach is to "celebrate success and use the group to achieve things that individuals probably wouldn't on their own."

McCann, 58, also serves on the board of Winthrop-University Hospital.

He is married and has three children and a granddaughter. His younger brother, Chris McCann, is president of the company.What are your plans for growth?

"We acquired a company in the gift basket business - we launched 1-800-Baskets.com in November of this past year. Our growth has been a combination of organic growth and small, strategic acquisitions." The recession has "curbed our ability to grow and our appetite to spend into it, so we haven't done an acquisition in a couple of years."

What do you look for when you're hiring?
McCann says that in addition to having solid knowledge in their area and being passionate, he likes "people who have a high tolerance for ambiguity."

What does that mean?
"Some people just need to know: 'This is exactly what I'm going to be doing, and it's not going to change.' In a small business environment like we're in, there's going to be change. If people can't roll with the punches, those people won't do well in an environment like this."

How would you describe your leadership style?
"Collegial. I try and build consensus. I try and craft - with the inputs of the different teams - the collective agenda. I try to set individual goals. So even if they don't quite understand what everybody else's goals are, they have faith in the process - that it rolls up into a bigger achievement."

How do you try to get people to do what you need them to do?
"Paint the picture. 'If we do this, this is what we'll achieve. Here's what we need you to be able to accomplish. What do you need to get there? Let's craft the reward and let's craft an environment where everybody knows what you're doing, too.' It's the community effort that matters more than the individual efforts." When an employee is falling behind, he adds, a colleague can "reach out and help."

Do you still consider the company a family business?
"Our kids have been in and out of the business. We have a rule: When you graduate from school, heretofore you've had to work in the business, and now you have to leave the business. They have to be out at least five years before they come back - just so they learn on someone else's nickel."

Corporate snapshot

NAME: Jim McCann

TITLE: Chief executive

COMPANY: 1-800-Flowers.com

BUSINESS: Floral and gift sales

LOCATION: Carle Place, 15 other locations, not including stores

TYPE: Public company (traded on Nasdaq: FLWS)

REVENUE: $714 million in fiscal 2009

EMPLOYEES: 3,000, including 800 on Long Island