Elevate Your Leadership and Business: The Power of Surrounding Yourself with Success

A 2 min read.

In the journey of personal and professional growth, the company you keep can be a powerful determinant of your success. When it comes to leadership and business, surrounding yourself with individuals who are more successful than you can be a game-changer. This principle is not about comparison, but rather about creating an environment that fosters learning, inspiration, and strategic development.

To start a conversation about how we can design a strategic partnership to foster your growth, let’s connect.

The Power of Positive Influence

Tony Robbins famously said, "To reach new heights of success, you must surround yourself with people who not only inspire you, but challenge you." This concept doubles down on the idea that the people around you influence your mindset, behaviors, and, ultimately, your success. In the realm of leadership and business, this influence becomes even more critical. Being surrounded by successful individuals provides a unique opportunity to observe, learn, and absorb the habits and strategies that have led to their success.

Learning from the Best: Podcasts and Books

One practical way to surround yourself with success is through podcasts and books authored by accomplished leaders. Podcasts offer a convenient way to consume valuable insights while on the go. Podcasts such as my podcast, “No Hesitations,” “Turning the Table,”  “Hospitality Leadership” and “The Burnt Chef," feature interviews with hospitality entrepreneurs who have built successful businesses.

Books, on the other hand, provide in-depth exploration of concepts and strategies. "Leaders Eat Last" by Simon Sinek and "Atomic Habits" by James Clear are excellent choices for leadership and personal development.

To start a conversation about how to strengthen your mindset and level up your success and happiness, let’s connect.

Board Membership: Strategic Involvement

Another way to immerse yourself in a circle of success is by joining a board. Serving on the board of a nonprofit or a business association not only allows you to contribute your expertise but also exposes you to the strategic decision-making processes of successful leaders. This firsthand experience can be a unique learning opportunity, providing insights that go beyond traditional mentorship.

Investing in Your Success

Surrounding yourself with people who are more successful than you isn't about ego; it's a strategic investment in your personal and professional development. By absorbing the wisdom and experiences of accomplished individuals, you can accelerate your own growth and make informed decisions in your leadership journey. Whether through podcasts, books, networking groups, or board memberships, the avenues to surround yourself with success are diverse and rich. Take the initiative to immerse yourself in these opportunities, and watch as your leadership and business thrive in the positive influence of those who have paved the way to success.

Here are some of my favorite resources for further reading:

Setting the Table: The Transforming Power of Hospitality in Business

by Danny Meyer

Renowned restaurateur Danny Meyer shares insights into the importance of hospitality in the restaurant business. Drawing from his experiences founding and managing successful restaurants, Meyer offers valuable lessons on creating exceptional dining experiences.

Unreasonable Hospitality

by Will Guidara

In this book, Will Guidara, co-founder of the acclaimed Eleven Madison Park restaurant in New York City, explores the concept of hospitality and how it can be taken to extraordinary levels. Drawing on his experiences in the hospitality industry, Guidara shares insights into creating memorable and unparalleled guest experiences.

The Coaching Habit: Say Less, Ask More & Change Your Leadership Approach

by Michael Bungay Stanier

Description: In this insightful guide, Michael Bungay Stanier introduces a game-changing coaching habit centered on asking powerful questions. With a focus on seven essential queries, the book empowers leaders to transform their approach, fostering more engaged teams and enhancing problem-solving skills. Packed with real-world examples and practical wisdom, it's a must-read for anyone looking to revolutionize their leadership style.

If you are ready to accelerate your growth, let’s connect.

P.S.

Whenever you are ready, here are several additional ways I provide daily support to hospitality leaders.

• Calling all restaurant owners and operators!!! The No Hesitations Leadership Podcast is here. There is no time like the present to listen in and level up your leadership. Click here to subscribe or follow.

• If you are a restaurant owner looking for a strategic partner to scale your business, retain and develop your managers, let's connect. Email me at christinlmarvin@gmail.com or you can even text me at 719-494-6074.

(Rest assured, I won't attempt to sell you anything.)

• If you are a hospitality leader looking to level up and position yourself for career advancement without sacrificing work-life balance, let’s start a conversation. Email me at christinlmarvin@gmail.com

• Each week, I provide hospitality leaders with valuable tools and resources to shift from surviving to thriving by embracing mental fitness. Subscribe to my newsletter below to receive these helpful tips directly in your inbox.

Love, Christin

The Secret Sauce to Scoring More Free Time from your Restaurant

A 3 min read.

I’ve always said that the true test of a successful business and leader is whether it can run without you.

My client had a hard time unplugging from running his restaurants because his team constantly reached out with questions. He was experiencing burnout and desired more days off to spend with his family, but the constant interruptions were hindering that.

We decided to review the communication from his team to him via email and text over the last 30 days. We identified common threads and then pinpointed items that might require a standard operating procedure (SOP) to address the root cause of the issue. Subsequently, we held a meeting with the managers to discuss their pain points and understand how those aligned with their constant questions.

What we discovered was that the managers had similar questions across locations and needed support to streamline inventory, item delivery, and training from one location to another. After strategic conversations with my client and his managers, we created the necessary systems, gained buy-in from the management team and staff, and implemented these systems.

Is your restaurant in need of leadership development? Take this 10 second survey.

This streamlined operations, allowing my client to focus more of his time and energy where he wanted, rather than being pulled in many different directions. In this article, I will teach you how creating SOPs can benefit you and your business as well as give you tips on how to create and implement those SOPs.

Here are 5 ways creating standard operating procedures (SOPs) for your business can enable you to step away from your business for days off, vacations, expansion, etc.:

1. Delegating tasks: SOPs provide clear instructions, making it easier for team members to carry out tasks without constant oversight. SOPs also turn your team into problem solvers once they know where to go for answers.

2. Consistency: Regardless of who is completing the task, with SOPs in place, the quality remains consistent, resulting in fewer mistakes and fewer fires to put out.

3. Training: SOPs serve as an excellent training manual for new employees, reducing onboarding time and increasing preparedness for the role, which reduces turnover.

4. Efficiency: With clear procedures, employees can work efficiently, increasing productivity and giving you more time and energy to focus on developing your team and growing your business.

5. Accountability: SOPs help track performance and hold individuals accountable for their work.

With SOPs in place, your restaurant breathes, operates, and delights your customers even in your absence. It's just what you had envisioned when you started. SOPs may take time to create, but you don’t need to do all the work yourself. Reach out to your community for shared resources and tap into the experts on your team, asking them to collaborate with you on creating these systems. The more buy-in you have from your team, the better the implementation process will be.

To start a conversation about how to create SOPs for your business, let’s connect.

So, once these systems have been created, how do you implement them? I’ll show you how now:

1. Communication is key: Announce the new procedures and explain their benefits to your team. Everyone should understand WHY this change is happening.

2. Train your team: Walk them through the SOPs. Ensure they comprehend their individual roles and responsibilities. Make training an ongoing process.

3. Attend to feedback: Your team, being on the frontline, might notice potential improvements. Be open to suggestions and make necessary adjustments.

4. Monitor and review: Set a review period. Analyze the effectiveness of the SOPs and tweak where needed.

5. Patience and persistence: Remember, it's okay to take baby steps and make gradual progress.

So, here's the deal: kicking off those SOPs is like starting a journey to make your restaurant hum even more. Put in the time and effort now, and you're basically investing in a better experience – think top-notch performance, higher profits, and an environment where everyone's on the same page.

SOPs are the secret sauce to scoring more free time. Instead of grinding harder, switch to a smarter game plan. Take a breather, not by hustling more, but by doing things cleverly. Your restaurant and your sanity will thank you.

If you want help strategizing how to implement your SOPs, let’s connect.

P.S.

Whenever you are ready, here are several additional ways I provide daily support to hospitality leaders.

• Calling all restaurant owners and operators!!! The No Hesitations Leadership Podcast is here. There is no time like the present to listen in and level up your leadership. Click here to subscribe or follow.

• If you are a restaurant owner looking for a strategic partner to scale your business, retain and develop your managers, let's connect. Email me at christinlmarvin@gmail.com or you can even text me at 719-494-6074.

(Rest assured, I won't attempt to sell you anything.)

• If you are a hospitality leader looking to level up and position yourself for career advancement without sacrificing work-life balance, let’s start a conversation. Email me at christinlmarvin@gmail.com

• Each week, I provide hospitality leaders with valuable tools and resources to shift from surviving to thriving by embracing mental fitness. Subscribe to my newsletter below to receive these helpful tips directly in your inbox.

Love, Christin

Unlocking the Entrepreneurial Mindset: Finding Inspiration Beyond the Rut

A 1 min read.

Find myself stuck in a bit of a rut this week, with the reasons remaining unclear. Seemingly, my mindset had decided to take a vacation in dismal land. The solitude of working from home for the first time in my professional journey was weighing heavily on me. Initially, I attributed my gloom to the approach of autumn, but the radiant Tucson sun quickly negated that theory. 

Determined to shift gear, I began mentally curating a list of tricks I'd successfully employed in the past, or suggested to my clients when they found themselves in a similar spot. This list spanned journaling, spending quality time in the desert, hanging out with friends, pampering my doodle tribe, and keeping busy.

Despite diligently journaling my past week's victories, my slump persisted. Attempting random acts of kindness, like buying coffee for a stranger, also didn't help. My daily outings with my dogs and weekend trail and training runs under the sunny sky were futile too.

Even diving back into the industry that I adore by taking up shifts at my buddy's upscale dining venue didn't do the trick. Nor did brainstorming sessions with my entrepreneur friend during our hikes, manage to kindle any sparks. 

However, an unexpected experience brought along the desired shift. I ventured far from my comfort zone of the hospitality sector, to attend an unrelated speaker session. Without any preconceived notions about the subject or the speaker, the task was to simply be present for 90 minutes and absorb. In coaching, we dub it as level 3 listening.

The unexpected happened. I found myself drawn to the speaker's message, their narrative striking a chord within me. I emerged from that session feeling lighter, brimming with optimism, and infused with renewed vigor to dive back into work. 

Sometimes, to trigger a mindset shift, stepping out of your own headspace, discovering new concept, and setting aside the 'me' notion helps. Your work will diligently stand by, awaiting your return, and if your passion fuels it, sustainability is a given. 

Allow yourself that well-deserved break from the daily grind. It's neither selfish nor unnecessary, rather it's healthy, responsible, sustainable, and fulfilling. Essence of life encapsulated right there.

Entering the break mode casts a positive ripple effect on your life, your loved ones, your pets, and your colleagues. 

To start a conversation on how to shift your mindset, let’s connect.

P.S.

Whenever you are ready, here are several additional ways I provide daily support to hospitality leaders.

• Calling all restaurant owners and operators!!! The No Hesitations Leadership Podcast is here. There is no time like the present to listen in and level up your leadership. Click here to subscribe or follow.

• If you are a restaurant owner looking for a strategic partner to scale your business, retain and develop your managers, let's connect. Email me at christinlmarvin@gmail.com or you can even text me at 719-494-6074.

(Rest assured, I won't attempt to sell you anything.)

• If you are a hospitality leader looking to level up and position yourself for career advancement without sacrificing work-life balance, let’s start a conversation. Email me at christinlmarvin@gmail.com

• Each week, I provide hospitality leaders with valuable tools and resources to shift from surviving to thriving by embracing mental fitness. Subscribe to my newsletter below to receive these helpful tips directly in your inbox.

Love, Christin

Seven Essential Elements of a Strong Restaurant Training Program

A 2 min read.

It's no secret that the restaurant industry has witnessed unprecedented levels of turnover in recent years. In 2020, the industry saw a staggering loss of six million jobs, and although many of those positions have since been recovered, full-service restaurants still face challenges in this regard. A significant portion of the newcomers to the industry lacks prior experience and demands more comprehensive training than ever before.

Training has always played a pivotal role in the success of any business, but it has become especially vital in the context of the hospitality industry today. In this discussion, I will present seven strategies to help you improve or establish a training program. I'll also provide guidance on how to implement these methods without increasing your workload, but instead, fostering the growth of your team.

Customized training programs are imperative within a restaurant setting, tailored to suit the requirements of each individual position. Consequently, it may be necessary to develop over ten distinct training packages for a single location, encompassing roles such as bussers, hosts, food runners, servers, bartenders, prep cooks, line cooks, dishwashers, and managers. Each of these roles demands a specific skill set to ensure success in their responsibilities and maintain the seamless operation of your establishment.

Is your restaurant in need of leadership development? Take this 10 second survey.

Creating such a comprehensive array of training materials can seem like a daunting undertaking, and it's often most feasible to establish them prior to the restaurant's opening. However, for existing restaurants, I will later discuss how you can construct the necessary training resources by harnessing the expertise of the professionals within your team.

You have the flexibility to add as much detail as you prefer to your program, but every training program should, at a minimum, encompass the following components:

Orientation

Provide your team with an overview of the concept, owners, vendors, all training materials, and their training schedule.

Floor Chart

Include table numbers, bar seats, and position numbers. These are easily created using tools like Google Docs.

Menu Descriptions

Offer comprehensive descriptions for all food and beverage items, covering ingredients, preparation methods, vendors, and allergen information.

Steps of Service

Clearly define expectations for your team, including actions such as greeting a table within 30 seconds, inquiring if the guests have dined at the restaurant previously, and offering cocktails, wine, beer, or mocktails.

Daily Checklist

Provide a structured list of what the trainer needs to cover and what the trainee is expected to learn. This checklist helps maintain a sense of organization in daily training sessions and enables trainers to tailor the training pace to the trainee's learning style.

Evaluation

Implement a testing mechanism to gauge the effectiveness of your training program. This step is crucial for ensuring accountability among both trainers and trainees.

Ongoing Training

Recognize that retention may wane within 3-7 days of initial training. Conduct regular meetings, line-ups, or staff training sessions to ensure your team can confidently discuss every facet of your menu, from vendor information to production methods and execution procedures. This ongoing training is vital for maintaining a well-informed team.

To start a conversation on how to develop your team, let’s connect.

Within each of your restaurants, you'll find experts in each of the aforementioned areas. Involving your team members in the development or enhancement of a training program for your restaurant represents an excellent way to empower them to think like owners. It demonstrates that you appreciate their input and dedication, ultimately leading to streamlined operations, an enhanced guest experience, and a more robust bottom line.

If you want help streamlining your restaurant’s operations, let’s connect.

Don't hesitate to start the conversation with your top-performing employees today, asking them if they'd be willing to contribute to the improvement of the business by taking on this vital responsibility.

If this is your first training program, don't stress about achieving perfection in every detail. The key is to establish a strong foundation, and you can refine and expand from there. Rest assured that your training team will provide valuable feedback to help identify areas for improvement.

Additionally, be cautious not to let technology become an obstacle. I've effectively managed restaurant training programs with nothing more than a binder located by the POS station.

In the restaurant industry, each day brings unique challenges, but one aspect you can consistently control and manage effectively is your training. The stronger your training program and trainers, the more confidence your new hires will gain. This, in turn, provides them with the space they need to build connections with their guests, ultimately leading to increased productivity and fewer order errors, positively impacting your bottom line.

Just as you craft a memorable experience for your guests, it's equally important to create a nurturing environment for your team. By establishing a robust foundation, you enable your team to thrive.

Maintaining consistency throughout your restaurant operations allows you to focus your time and energy where you want to, rather than where you have to. This sustains the restaurant's success and helps you direct your efforts to areas of strategic importance.

If you want to discuss this topic further, let’s start a conversation.

P.S.

Whenever you are ready, here are several additional ways I provide daily support to hospitality leaders.

• Calling all restaurant owners and operators!!! The No Hesitations Leadership Podcast is here. There is no time like the present to listen in and level up your leadership. Click here to subscribe or follow.

• If you are a restaurant owner looking for a strategic partner to scale your business, retain and develop your managers, let's connect. Email me at christinlmarvin@gmail.com or you can even text me at 719-494-6074.

(Rest assured, I won't attempt to sell you anything.)

• If you are a hospitality leader looking to level up and position yourself for career advancement without sacrificing work-life balance, let’s start a conversation. Email me at christinlmarvin@gmail.com

• Each week, I provide hospitality leaders with valuable tools and resources to shift from surviving to thriving by embracing mental fitness. Subscribe to my newsletter below to receive these helpful tips directly in your inbox.

Love, Christin