Redefining Culinary Leadership for #thenewkitchenculture.
Stand Up
Assumptions
Agreements
Where we're headed
Copyright 2022 Realignment Media
Time check y'all it's 30 minutes before service and
Adam Lamb:it's time for your line check.
Adam Lamb:Welcome back to the show.
Adam Lamb:I'm your host, chef Adam Lamb, and I'm dedicated to helping you build
Adam Lamb:the skills to overcome any obstacle in your culinary career and to face those
Adam Lamb:challenges with confidence and resilience.
Adam Lamb:Let's get everybody together for a quick standup and check the temperature of the.
Adam Lamb:Not the physical space in which we inhabit, but I wanted to check
Adam Lamb:in and see how everybody's feeling about their progress so far today.
Adam Lamb:What challenges are you facing?
Adam Lamb:What's been going on, Patrick.
Adam Lamb:How about you?
Adam Lamb:Yeah.
Adam Lamb:Yeah.
Adam Lamb:I sense you were a bit frustrated earlier when you had to wait
Adam Lamb:for the produce delivery.
Adam Lamb:Not really.
Adam Lamb:Okay.
Adam Lamb:Maybe now's a good time to go over some ground rules for the hashtag new
Adam Lamb:kitchen culture we're building right.
Adam Lamb:Maybe we can come to some consensus about what we're trying to achieve together.
Adam Lamb:We, we chef I appreciate the fact that you're willing to take time out of the
Adam Lamb:day to be of service to one another in this little community we're building.
Adam Lamb:I get that you are already committed to.
Adam Lamb:Co-creating a new way forward for our fraternity of fellow cooks, creative
Adam Lamb:spirits, dreamers builders, and those that need somewhere and something to belong
Adam Lamb:to on the island of misfit toys or else you wouldn't be here in the first place.
Adam Lamb:I can't stand by another day and scroll through my social media feed
Adam Lamb:and see yet another post about a chef gone before his or her time.
Adam Lamb:The signs of dysfunction have been around for years, mostly
Adam Lamb:enabled, ignored, or laughed.
Adam Lamb:As long as a machine got fed, it kept spitting out more money.
Adam Lamb:My purpose and mission are to be your guide on this journey
Adam Lamb:of discovery and mentor your progress, mentor your greatness.
Adam Lamb:What's your purpose for being here?
Adam Lamb:Listen, becoming a better version of yourself professionally and personally.
Adam Lamb:Ain't easy.
Adam Lamb:That's why most of us fail before we even try, you know this, and yet you still
Adam Lamb:showed up and stepped into the circle to be counted and have your voice heard.
Adam Lamb:Good on ya.
Adam Lamb:You have a voice you opted to be part of this organization.
Adam Lamb:I want you to speak your truth.
Adam Lamb:As long as it doesn't malign threaten or take away another sovereignty
Adam Lamb:or dignity, there is nothing more dangerous than someone whose
Adam Lamb:dignity has been taken from them.
Adam Lamb:I know this from bitter experience, a sad and shameful story.
Adam Lamb:I'll say for another time, the way forward out of this dumpster
Adam Lamb:fire that we have ourselves in is to co-create an environment and a
Adam Lamb:culture right here right now in this.
Adam Lamb:Let's commit to sharing common values and desires, which may or may not be
Adam Lamb:satisfied in other places in your life.
Adam Lamb:But here you get to be heard, valued, considered, and treated with respect.
Adam Lamb:By being here, you have declared to us your intention to be at cause
Adam Lamb:for this new way forward towards a hashtag new kitchen culture.
Adam Lamb:Soon, others will know just by the way you start showing up at
Adam Lamb:first, they might not understand.
Adam Lamb:Then they'll begin to wonder why you're happy.
Adam Lamb:All the.
Adam Lamb:finally, they'll conclude that you must be drinking the Kool-Aid, but
Adam Lamb:don't kid yourself a monumental change.
Adam Lamb:Like this won't happen overnight, nor will it come from someone
Adam Lamb:outside of the industry.
Adam Lamb:It can only come from us working together and United in the belief
Adam Lamb:that we are the industry in almost every operation I've ever worked in.
Adam Lamb:The kitchen has always led the change.
Adam Lamb:Why should it be any different now?
Adam Lamb:And if not now, when.
Adam Lamb:If not you then who it's up to me, him, her and yeah, those two knuckleheads
Adam Lamb:over there with their hands up were enough, but first we're gonna have
Adam Lamb:to agree to some basic assumptions.
Adam Lamb:Okay.
Adam Lamb:We are all aware of the issues, problems, and challenges.
Adam Lamb:This industry has faced for the past 25 years, which thanks to COVID.
Adam Lamb:Burst into the headlines and forever stripped our craft and fraternity
Adam Lamb:of its sexy and desirable facade.
Adam Lamb:And finally let the outside world see what most of us already knew.
Adam Lamb:Shit's fucked up and getting worse by the minute now that everybody
Adam Lamb:sees what we've experienced.
Adam Lamb:And some like me had a hand in perpetrating until the crisis of
Adam Lamb:faith was mine or on that somewhere else, we all have a unique opportunity
Adam Lamb:to change the basic assumption of how business is conduct.
Adam Lamb:the only way that happens is together.
Adam Lamb:How do we do that?
Adam Lamb:As it turns out, I've got some pretty juicy ideas validated and proven
Adam Lamb:to work, but we're all gonna have to come to some type of consensus.
Adam Lamb:If we're gonna try it out here.
Adam Lamb:Most of us feel at times unappreciated by anyone else that isn't a chef.
Adam Lamb:Often we feel disconnected from other chefs because for a while, all any of
Adam Lamb:us could do was to keep our head in operation above the incoming tide of.
Adam Lamb:A lot of people gave up and found work in other industries, but did
Adam Lamb:this polls conducted by our friends at the Bern chef academy tells us
Adam Lamb:that almost 60% of those that left plan on coming back within a year.
Adam Lamb:That means that the clock is ticking and we all have some cleanup to do before
Adam Lamb:they arrive some of our best friends, fellow associates, brothers, and sisters.
Adam Lamb:Didn't make it through this trial by fire.
Adam Lamb:Some we lost to addiction and suicide.
Adam Lamb:Some decided that it was just too much to bear some, even smartened up and
Adam Lamb:chose their family over the promise of another night, grinding it out with the
Adam Lamb:boys and the girls back in the shop.
Adam Lamb:Some of us are starting to wonder whether we've made a terrible mistake
Adam Lamb:following our heart and passion, dedicating ourselves to a craft that
Adam Lamb:can sometimes feel as if we've been tricked and turned out on the street
Adam Lamb:corner, played and taken advantage of betrayed by the very thing we loved.
Adam Lamb:Right here right now.
Adam Lamb:Can we affirm and agree to one another, as long as we're part of this organization
Adam Lamb:and within this space that we will a treat each other kindly and show up,
Adam Lamb:ready to support our fellow team members and chefs B be more curious about
Adam Lamb:the solution to a certain challenge than any fleeting satisfaction that
Adam Lamb:might come from complaining about it.
Adam Lamb:C be willing to let go of the idea that our pain is a badge of.
Adam Lamb:Finally admitting to ourselves, if no one else that the grind and
Adam Lamb:that kind of mindset only grinds us down and D know that if anything
Adam Lamb:is to change, then it must be us.
Adam Lamb:That show the way by our actions.
Adam Lamb:Not our words.
Adam Lamb:I've heard that you can either be right or in relationship, but not both.
Adam Lamb:I choose relationships.
Adam Lamb:The associates managers, vendors, guests, and owners who populate our kitchens,
Adam Lamb:dining rooms, bars, and back dock represent the foundational challenge
Adam Lamb:of our professional and personal life.
Adam Lamb:Close your eyes.
Adam Lamb:And imagine just for a second, what it might feel like your own
Adam Lamb:career trajectory, like a boss, suppose you can master the art
Adam Lamb:and science of relationships with skill, clarity, compassion,
Adam Lamb:authenticity, and transparency.
Adam Lamb:In that case, you'll become a mentor.
Adam Lamb:Others will seek out because you've discovered that communication is
Adam Lamb:the secret key that unlocks the freedom and enjoyment of your career.
Adam Lamb:You most desire, which one of us doesn't wanna solve the staffing problem once.
Adam Lamb:And for all Maria, are you in no, blah, blah.
Adam Lamb:More recently, some seeking jobs in our kitchen showed up for their first shift,
Adam Lamb:eager to talk about the boundaries.
Adam Lamb:They held important, full of promise for a seat at the table.
Adam Lamb:in response to their enthusiasm.
Adam Lamb:They were immediately crushed under the weight of indifference, apathy, or
Adam Lamb:outright hostility, which hid the envy.
Adam Lamb:Some chefs held in their hearts.
Adam Lamb:Some chef might then walk away with Ash in their mouth, as they wondered
Adam Lamb:why they never had the minerals to stand for what they wanted.
Adam Lamb:Fuck that another chef might grim us under his breath, pissed
Adam Lamb:about the family and friends.
Adam Lamb:He willingly bartered away for a vague promise of prominence.
Adam Lamb:He or she might be left with the suspicion.
Adam Lamb:When the promise is finally fulfilled, it'll be too late to
Adam Lamb:make another choice and they'll be stuck holding a bag that will never
Adam Lamb:balance the scales in their favor.
Adam Lamb:At that moment, the chef will remind herself or himself field by his anger
Adam Lamb:and choking on his regret that it is proper and fair that he or she treats
Adam Lamb:his youngling in the same manner as he or she had been trained shamed
Adam Lamb:and conditioned to disconnect from their humanity and compassion so that
Adam Lamb:they could be a marginally better manager than he had been last quarter.
Adam Lamb:They might call that success.
Adam Lamb:Who said, this is the way it's supposed to be.
Adam Lamb:And if you can't control your environment, circumstance or other
Adam Lamb:people, what can you control?
Adam Lamb:Why have some of us gone along with a lie that it's better
Adam Lamb:to burn out than fade away?
Adam Lamb:It's more honorable to grind and die than question and upset the whole
Adam Lamb:rotten apple card of profit in any cost except of the share price and
Adam Lamb:unsustainable growth for bragging rights.
Adam Lamb:Some of us might have been lucky enough to actually been
Adam Lamb:taught, to be competent manager.
Adam Lamb:problem is, is you can manage a labor cost, but you can't kid yourself that
Adam Lamb:this qualifies you to be a leader because you don't manage people.
Adam Lamb:You manage a cost.
Adam Lamb:Very, very few of us were taught to be leaders.
Adam Lamb:None of us were taught to be effective in inspirational mentors.
Adam Lamb:The only way you'll ever be free enough to fully enjoy your career without
Adam Lamb:sacrificing your life is to mentor your people with intention and clarity.
Adam Lamb:And to do that, you need a plan.
Adam Lamb:You'll need to provide them a safe space so that they can role play, make mistakes.
Adam Lamb:And then finally you'll need to support their growth and
Adam Lamb:maturity as professionals.
Adam Lamb:And most importantly as complete human beings, you'll need to clearly articulate
Adam Lamb:and support their career path and deliver timely, constructive feedback
Adam Lamb:that encourages enthusiasm and growth instead of leaving them deflated and
Adam Lamb:dejected sounds like a lot of work.
Adam Lamb:Doesn't.
Adam Lamb:It's the only work that matters.
Adam Lamb:If you truly want to enjoy your career without sacrificing your life.
Adam Lamb:It's now time to learn embody and promote a new kind of leadership that has less
Adam Lamb:to do with managing and much more to do with mentoring, authentic connection,
Adam Lamb:community empowerment, valuing everybody's voice while still being the stakeholder.
Adam Lamb:And guess what?
Adam Lamb:It doesn't matter what kind of hat you're wearing or what kind of jacket you got on.
Adam Lamb:You're a leader, right?
Adam Lamb:Where you're at with the way that you show up.
Adam Lamb:It's now time to implement a new definition of leadership that embraces
Adam Lamb:diversity, sustainability knowledge, elderhood respect and admiration.
Adam Lamb:The hashtag new kitchen culture has an atmosphere of support, a structure that is
Adam Lamb:easily understood and a clear career path through the organization in this culture.
Adam Lamb:When the lead cook confidently decides that she's ready to
Adam Lamb:step up to the vacant sous chef.
Adam Lamb:She can be sure that she won't be thrown to the wolves on a Saturday night with
Adam Lamb:a 500 seat, early bird with no support, because someone wants to know if she can
Adam Lamb:handle herself in a stressful situation.
Adam Lamb:She'll be ready for that job because she's been brought along
Adam Lamb:methodically intentionally and nurtured until she is seasoned and salty.
Adam Lamb:She will have completed written and physical skills assessment
Adam Lamb:against established standards evaluated and given a plan in the
Adam Lamb:areas where she could improve.
Adam Lamb:She'll taken part of mock service and role play.
Adam Lamb:So that the first time a frustrated server comes into the kitchen.
Adam Lamb:After taking a verbal beating from the guest, who's committed to being right,
Adam Lamb:the new sous chef, won't take it as a personal front to be questioned,
Adam Lamb:but will be an active participant in the guest recovery, assisting the
Adam Lamb:server to get grounded and centered so they can finish the shift together.
Adam Lamb:She will have been trained and encouraged to believe that her greatest
Adam Lamb:asset isn't in her tool bag or in her head, what she brings to the table,
Adam Lamb:what you all bring to the table.
Adam Lamb:or more precisely to the line is the only thing that makes a difference worth
Adam Lamb:valuing your open and receptive heart.
Adam Lamb:In other words, this operation and all our kitchens need to become crucible
Adam Lamb:of greatness because the only two measure of any chef success is not
Adam Lamb:magazine covers, bullshit, scripted, reality shows, money or awards.
Adam Lamb:I firmly believe that the only accurate metric to use in qualifying a chef's
Adam Lamb:success is to find out how many of his or her staff have gone on to
Adam Lamb:become successful chefs in their own.
Adam Lamb:In partnership with a chef and not despite his or her influence, my promise,
Adam Lamb:commitment and mission are to assist you in becoming the master mentor.
Adam Lamb:You always knew you could be.
Adam Lamb:You could very well become a culinary professional who is
Adam Lamb:respected, admired for your ability to elevate those in your operation.
Adam Lamb:Most deserving of recognition, inclusion and empowerment.
Adam Lamb:You can become the type of chef celebrated as a brilliant and intuitive mentor who
Adam Lamb:saw and encouraged greatness in others before they could see it themselves.
Adam Lamb:In that humble, but awkward moment of praise.
Adam Lamb:You're gracious enough to receive the recognition without argument
Adam Lamb:or false modesty because you know that it hasn't ever been a question
Adam Lamb:or calculation, bravery or courage that caused you to encourage and
Adam Lamb:foster the dreams of others for you.
Adam Lamb:It's simply been the right thing to do.
Adam Lamb:you understand that it has never been about you.
Adam Lamb:It was always about the dreams and aspirations of others that you supported,
Adam Lamb:encouraged and enabled by your mentorship, experience, guidance, wisdom, and patience
Adam Lamb:for now, let all the others make the fuss.
Adam Lamb:We have work to do let's start enjoying our careers without
Adam Lamb:sacrificing our lives, loved ones, sanity, sobriety, and that unique.
Adam Lamb:You have that?
Adam Lamb:No one else can replace replicate, take away, shut down or discard
Adam Lamb:without your permission, your heart.
Adam Lamb:We chef we chef.
Adam Lamb:Thank you for letting me talk to you.
Adam Lamb:Thank you for letting some of this in.
Adam Lamb:I really appreciate your attention.
Adam Lamb:I see you.
Adam Lamb:I value.
Adam Lamb:I believe in you have a great shift.
Adam Lamb:I'll see you on the other side.
Adam Lamb:That's it for this episode of chef life.
Adam Lamb:Radio's line check here at chef life radio.
Adam Lamb:We believe that working in a kitchen should be demanding.
Adam Lamb:It shouldn't have to be demeaning.
Adam Lamb:It should be hard.
Adam Lamb:It just doesn't have to be harsh.
Adam Lamb:We believe that it's possible to have more solidarity, unless suck it up.
Adam Lamb:Sunshine, more compassion, less cutthroat island.
Adam Lamb:We believe in more partnership and less put up or shut up more.
Adam Lamb:C.
Adam Lamb:And a lot less, fuck you finally consider for a second for
Adam Lamb:all the blood, sweat rashes.
Adam Lamb:And sometimes even tears we put into what we do really.
Adam Lamb:It's just some stuff on a plate.
Adam Lamb:None of it really matters.
Adam Lamb:It doesn't define you as a person or make you any more
Adam Lamb:special or less than anyone else.
Adam Lamb:Just the dance that we're engaged in.
Adam Lamb:So we might as well laugh and enjoy every bit of it.
Adam Lamb:Even the crappy parts while we're doing it, or didn't, you know, that the
Adam Lamb:purpose of your life should be to enjoy it on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter.
Adam Lamb:Chef life radio, all one word.
Adam Lamb:Check us out on the web at www dot chef life.
Adam Lamb:radio.com, Stan tall and frosty brothers and sisters.
Adam Lamb:Until next time here at chef life radio.
Adam Lamb:Be well and do good.
Adam Lamb:This show was produced, recorded and edited by me, Adam Lamb at the
Adam Lamb:dish pit studios in Bardo, North Carolina, chef life radios line