{"id":151,"date":"2021-05-04T14:24:29","date_gmt":"2021-05-04T19:24:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.diningrd.com\/blog\/?p=151"},"modified":"2023-05-12T14:24:46","modified_gmt":"2023-05-12T19:24:46","slug":"5-ingredients-for-foodservice-leadership","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.diningrd.com\/blog\/5-ingredients-for-foodservice-leadership\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Ingredients for Foodservice Leadership"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"480\" height=\"270\" src=\"https:\/\/www.diningrd.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Foodservice-Leadership.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-152\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.diningrd.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Foodservice-Leadership.jpg 480w, https:\/\/www.diningrd.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Foodservice-Leadership-300x169.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 480px) 100vw, 480px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Imagine for a second that you\u2019ve decided to cook up an exciting new meal for your residents. As the foodservice manager, you and your team talk it through and have the entire recipe mapped out in a matter of a few minutes. All you need to do is go shopping for the right ingredients \u2014 and because you\u2019re a rockstar, you know what those ingredients are. When the dust settles, you\u2019re confident that the final meal will be amazing and a great new addition to your menu.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We brought this up because just like whipping up the perfect meal takes planning, teamwork, and shopping for the perfect ingredients, there are certain ingredients for foodservice leadership, too. Yet, for many of us, it\u2019s difficult to know, identify, and narrow down which ingredients (traits and characteristics) are guaranteed to strengthen your foodservice operations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When trying to be the best foodservice leader you can be, you generally think of someone who:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Communicates effectively<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Has a vision for the future<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Fosters creativity<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Promotes teamwork<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Creates relationships<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Solves problems<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Is passionate and self-motivated<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Communication<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Communication is the bedrock ingredient for foodservice leadership. When you have open lines of communication, everyone is on the same page even during chaotic times, all opinions are considered, and staff and resident needs are being met. A little communication reduces turnover, ensures everyone has a voice, and helps you understand what\u2019s really going on within your operation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Host a team huddle at least once a week for all shifts.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Listen more than you speak.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Create a communication board for menus, substitutions, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>If you listen more than you speak and practice active listening, you will organically encourage feedback. Pay attention during these conversations, withhold judgment, reflect, clarify what was said, and summarize by using a few key phrases like, \u201cI trust you,\u201d and \u201cYou can count on me,\u201d and \u201cTell me more,\u201d and \u201cWhat do you need from me?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Recognition<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>People, especially your staff, want and deserve to feel like their contributions to the foodservice operations are recognized, appreciated, integral to the team\u2019s success, and, when possible, rewarded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Develop personal connections with each team member.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Give credit (praise spontaneously, specifically, purposefully, privately, publicly, in writing).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Say \u201cThank you!\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Reward and recognize.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>There are a million ways to reward and recognize your employees. A few include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Paper thank-you notes<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Create a Wall of Fame<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Celebrate work anniversaries and birthdays<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Go out to lunch; buy treats for the team<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Training<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Training and continuing education are vital for preventing stagnancy, giving opportunities to cross-train staff, and supporting professional advancement. A necessary ingredient for foodservice leadership is constantly being innovative with your training practices and promoting change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Attitude<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Maintaining the right attitude is essential.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Be positive<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Leave personal luggage at the door<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Be a problem-solver<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Accountability<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Every foodservice leader wants to be well-liked. But it is equally important to have a vision for the future of your foodservice operation and hold everyone to that same standard of excellence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Hold employees accountable.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Allow employees to hold you accountable.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Ensure staff knows their responsibilities.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Clearly communicate expectations.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Model correct behaviors. No hypocrisies such as, \u201cDo as I say, not as I do.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Follow through with all promises.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Don\u2019t fall into the trap of sacrificing accountability just to be liked. Set boundaries, be fair, and don\u2019t show favorites. Furthermore, focus on empowering, educating, and informing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Remember that leaders focus on people, inspire trust, innovate, and develop those around them. If you can follow that recipe and incorporate the right ingredients, you will be the foodservice leader you and others expect you to be.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Imagine for a second that you\u2019ve decided to cook up an exciting new meal for your residents. As the foodservice manager, you and your team talk it through and have the entire recipe mapped out in a matter of a few minutes. All you need to do is go shopping for the right ingredients \u2014 [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-151","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.diningrd.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/151","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.diningrd.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.diningrd.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.diningrd.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.diningrd.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=151"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.diningrd.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/151\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":153,"href":"https:\/\/www.diningrd.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/151\/revisions\/153"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.diningrd.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=151"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.diningrd.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=151"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.diningrd.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=151"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}