I had the opportunity to spend time with Danny Klein of QSR and FSR magazine as we talked about all things #restaurantleadership and how we will both be sharing the stage at the QSR Evolution Conference in #Atlanta on September 4 & 5, 2024.
Check out this week's episode to answer the question: What does every restaurant manager need to become a leader?
#SpoilerAlert - Every Leader Needs Followers
The #1 thing that restaurant companies of all sizes miss.
Costing them tens of thousands of dollars annually.
The miss the why behind the results.
They set operational targets based on percentages.
Because that’s the language that finance speaks.
But guests don’t spend percentages.
And managers can’t control them either.
Guests spend dollars.
And managers work with people.
So until the industry starts to set operational targets
Which lead to percentage results.
We will always see the same things happen.
Cut harder.
Work harder.
Grind harder.
Burn out the team.
And do it all over again.
In hopes to see the result that we are hoping for.
But I promise it doesn’t have to be so hard.
And there is an easier way.
Who’s with me❓
👊🏻
#restaurantindustry#hospitalityindustry#restaurantmanagement#leadership#innovation
What is strategy? 🤔
Why do I need it when I already have a plan?
"I'm going to start fixing A, then move on to B, then C."
Wrong! ❌
One of the gaps I see in leaders struggling to move from middle management to senior management is the ability to think several moves ahead—like in a game of chess. ♟️
If I want to start a restaurant, a plan might include:
Finding a good location 📍
Hiring good staff 👩🍳👨🍳
Cooking good food 🍽️
Saving money wherever possible 💰
But a strategy is about:
Noticing a trend in hotpot restaurants 🔥
Knowing that the key to success is cost control and leveraging volume 📈
Standardizing SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures) 📝
Then, I start with the same plan.
The difference is, now you know why you're doing it, and if anything goes wrong, you can adjust your plans accordingly. 🎯
#StrategyVsPlan#StrategicThinking#Leadership#CareerGrowth#BusinessStrategy
🍕 From the Kitchen to the Boardroom 🍕
Yesterday I was on the delicious and challenging journey of making Neapolitan pizza at home. 🏡 What struck me was how closely this culinary adventure mirrors key principles of business leadership. Here’s what I learned:
🔍 Precision and Attention to Detail
- Just like the perfect pizza dough needs precise measurements, effective leadership demands meticulous planning and attention to detail.
🔥 Adaptability and Problem-Solving
- Managing the oven temperature is crucial, much like adapting to changing business environments. Quick, informed decisions make all the difference!
👥 Teamwork and Delegation
- Making pizza with others? Collaboration is key. In business, great leaders delegate and foster teamwork to achieve common goals.
❤️ Passion and Persistence
- The best pizzas are made with love for the craft. Similarly, passionate leaders inspire and drive their teams towards success with dedication and resilience.
💡 Innovation and Creativity
- Experimenting with toppings or techniques can lead to unique pizzas. Likewise, leaders encourage innovation and creativity to stay ahead in the market.
Whether in the kitchen or the boardroom, these principles guide us toward excellence. What’s your favorite way to draw parallels between everyday activities and leadership?
#Leadership#Teamwork#Innovation#BusinessStrategy#PassionInWork#CulinaryAdventures#NeapolitanPizza#FoodForThought
Are you a talent hoarder?
What’s that, you may ask? 🤔
It’s when leaders hold onto their best people so tightly that they stifle their growth.
We don’t mean to—we think we’re safeguarding our team’s success. 🔐
But imagine if your favorite restaurant never let their star chef try out new recipes. 👨🍳
Everyone would be missing out, right?
Leadership is a lot like Kintsugi: our job is to fill the cracks, not to hoard the gold. By investing in our team's potential, we can create something extraordinary—a masterpiece of growth and resilience.
So here’s the real question:
Are you holding your stars back, or are you letting them shine?
💬 What’s one way you’ve empowered your team to grow recently?
Drop your thoughts in the comments, or message me if you’re looking for ideas to help your team thrive!
#LeadershipMatters#TalentHoarding#TeamEmpowerment#KintsugiLeadership#EmployeeGrowth#LeadershipTips#BuildLeaders#EmpowerTeams#TransformationTuesday#TuesdayThoughts
Husband; Father to 2 awesome boys; Lean Maniac; Leader of Automated Drive Systems; Student of continuous improvement; teacher of people who want to learn and grateful for all of life’s blessings
I was grabbing coffee with a friend this morning and overheard the baristas asking if it was possible to bring up an ingredient from the back since the can of whatever felt light and she did not want to run out when they hit their peak time and cause a slowdown. The other barista quickly chastised the idea and that they needed to follow the rule and wait until it was out before bringing more from the back.
The correcting barista then proceeded to share a couple of ideas she had for improving things that slow them down.
By this time the manager got involved and told them both not to worry that “they” were working on #improvements for them.
Attention all business owners, managers, directors, supervisors or others leading in any capacity. #trust your team, give them the latitude to run experiments and make your company better. The people closest to the #gemba have great ideas to improve your company. Give them resources, tools and support and watch your company take off in ways you cannot fathom.
#2secondlean#leanthinking#leadership
The Restaurant Coach®️| 6X Amazon Best Selling Author - My mission is to work with independent restaurant owners that want to achieve the have-it-all lifestyle across all four domains: Body, Being, Balance, Business.
When it comes to building a high-performing restaurant team, the typical focus on skills and experience may be holding you back.
The most effective leaders know that personality is the true game-changer. Discover how to flip the script on your hiring approach and unlock a whole new level of success.
Follow for more tips.
#restaurantcoach#restauranthiring#restaurantteam
The secret to creating extraordinary guest experiences
Ever wonder the key behind outstanding restaurants? 🤔
It all starts with mentally fit leaders.
They're not just managers, they're visionaries.
They know great service requires a team that's physically and mentally prepared, in an environment that fosters creativity and resilience.
What does this mean?
Regardless if you're a small café owner or a hotel chain executive, your leadership makes the difference.
Let's redefine leadership in hospitality.
#hospitality#leadershipdevelopment#mentalwellness
The way you've articulated the nuances of delivering bad news so thoughtfully is brilliant. Those small moments of compassion and emotional intelligence can make a world of difference when sharing difficult information.
You're absolutely right that channeling the receiver's perspective and matching their sentiment is crucial. Smiling or acting clueless when dropping a bombshell only adds insult to injury. But if the messenger takes a beat to absorb the weight of the impact first, they can then calibrate their delivery with the appropriate gravitas, sympathy and sensitivity the situation merits.
Your point about bad news not having to be a sensation if delivered with the right technique is spot on. The best messengers are truly pros who can read the emotional field and atmosphere. They shape their communication not just around the facts, but around the human element - considering how best to cushion the blow and guide the receiver through those initial moments of processing the disappointing or painful news.
Little things like body language, eye contact, vocal tone and allowing space for the receiver's reaction go a long way. It's about creating that empathetic pocket where the bad news can land a bit more softly, rather than being an abrupt, jarring assault.
You've encapsulated the art of delivering bad news with such compassionate wisdom. It's a skill that requires real emotional maturity and presence of mind. Your insights are excellent reminders to always lead with humanity, no matter how difficult the message. Impactful communication starts with wearing the other person's shoes.
Leadership ASCEND Method™️ Creator | Transforming High-Achievers into Industry Thought Leaders | Book Writing & Content Strategy
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐛𝐚𝐝 𝐧𝐞𝐰𝐬.
Bad news is inevitable.
It could be a dining disaster.
Many people bungle the mode of delivery.
Smiling clerks. Grinning cashiers. Clueless couriers.
They deliver bombs blindly.
They have no regard for the blast radius.
𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐝𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐭?
Channel the receiver.
Match their sentiment.
Compassion. Sympathy. Sorrow.
Be a pro messenger. Read the field.
Absorb the impact before you hurl it.
Bad news doesn't have to be a sensation.
With the right technique, you'll deliver it well.
_________________________________
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Leadership is the key ingredient in any successful restaurant.
Whether you're in charge of a cozy café or a busy fine-dining spot, how you lead makes a big difference for your team and your customers.
Good leadership motivates your team to do their best every day, making work more positive and productive. But bad leadership?
It can crush morale, leading to burnout and high turnover rates.
Here's how leadership impacts your restaurant:
Positive Leadership:
- Boosts team spirit and togetherness.
- Builds a culture of trust and responsibility.
- Shows in top-notch customer experiences.
Negative Leadership:
- Causes frustration and disconnection.
- Weakens teamwork and communication.
- Damages your restaurant's reputation and profits.
Great leaders set the stage for success. Let's nurture, support, and empower our teams—it's the secret recipe for a thriving establishment!
#restaurant#cafe#bar#managment#conslutant#food#beverage
