There are many jobs in the culinary industry that require excellent leadership skills. From restaurant owners to chefs and dining room managers, leadership is integral in making these high-paced workplaces function smoothly. So, what is leadership exactly? The truth is, it has many meanings and many styles.
Here are just a few traits to consider when looking for leaders, or evaluating your own skills.
- Inspiration – Mental stimulation, especially in a creative manner, can make your establishment stand out and your employees excited to come to work.
- Focus – Have a clear vision of your goals, theme, and intentions at all times to keep from getting distracted by things that don’t matter or can be delegated.
- Confidence – It is important to not only feel self-assured, but also to instill an unspoken trust among those you lead.
- Integrity -Your ability to be honest while upholding strong morals can make or break the team.
- Passion -If you don’t love what you’re doing, why should anyone who works for you?
- Decisiveness – Decisions won’t always be clear cut or easy, what’s important is that you able to make decisions quickly and steadfastly when needed.
- Communication – The ability to listen to others and understand their point of view as well as express yourself in an understandable way are paramount in this industry.
- Authenticity – Being genuine in your intentions and presentation to both staff and the public can enhance relationships.
- Adaptable – With so many moving parts, this industry is prone to lots of mishaps, mix-ups, and unexpected circumstances. How well you can adjust to anything thrown your way says a lot about you.
No matter your leadership style, these traits have been shown repeatedly as some of the top skills of great leaders. Simply wearing a chef coat does not implore people to follow you, being a good leader does.