Aug. 3, 2024
Lead or Mentor
Hey Chef, have you ever felt like the kitchen is missing a few extra hands?
“Mentoring is an indispensable requirement for an artist’s growth. Not only are skills and experience shared, but there is value in the essential re-examination of one’s own work and techniques.” ~ Jim Norman
I get it. The culinary world is facing a staffing crisis, and it's time to whip up a solution.
So, here's the deal: let's become mentors, not just leaders, and make our kitchens the heart of culinary excellence!
The Culinary Conundrum
Before diving into the melting pot of solutions, let's understand the difference between being a mentor and a leader.
Picture a leader as the head chef, calling the shots, and a mentor as the culinary Yoda, guiding with wisdom.
Both are important, but each has a unique flavor.
ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5
Now, let's talk about ELI5 – Explain Like I'm 5.
Remember teaching a kid to tie shoelaces?
Break it down, keep it simple. That's our recipe for success.
We're going to break down mentorship into bite-sized, digestible pieces.
Why Mentorship Matters
Mentorship isn't just a fancy word; it's the magic wand that turns kitchen apprentices into culinary wizards.
Why does it matter, you ask?
Well, imagine your favorite dish. It didn't become a masterpiece overnight.
It needed time, care, and ingredients – just like our chefs.
Actionable Takeaway #1: Patience is Key
Imagine baking cookies with a little one. It takes time, right?
Similarly, give your chefs the time to rise like a perfectly baked soufflé.
Patience is the secret ingredient to culinary success.
Actionable Takeaway #2: Lead by Example
Remember when your mom showed you how to tie your shoes?
Be that mom in the kitchen. Show your team how it's done.
Lead by example, and soon, they'll be tying their own culinary knots.
Actionable Takeaway #3: Foster a Supportive Environment
Think of your kitchen as a playground.
Kids learn best when they feel safe and supported.
Create an environment where your chefs can play, experiment, and, yes, make a mess.
That's where culinary creativity blossoms.
The Power of Encouragement
Think back to when you first rode a bike without training wheels.
Encouragement made all the difference, right? The same goes for your kitchen brigade.
Celebrate their wins, no matter how small.
A confident chef is a chef who can conquer any culinary mountain.
Breaking the Ice: Personal Stories
"I remember it like it was yesterday."
From burnt soufflés to culinary triumphs, every misstep taught me something new.
Share your stories.
Let your team know that even the best chefs started as kitchen apprentices.
The Joy of Learning Together
They call it "Watchin' the penny drop in Marblehead."
It is an inexpressible moment when someone has an epiphany they previously never understood.
Their eyes get wide and wild.
Their mouth open, and just for a second, they are speechless.
Then, they'll either slowly smile widely or laugh out loud.
"Get the fuckouttahere".
"Aaaahhh, I see what you did right there.." as their voice trails off.
They are forever changed in that second, no longer the person they were before.
In that split second, you know why you should try to mentor them instead of just telling them what to do.
That's why you do it.
To witness greatness in the making.
Balancing Act: Mentorship in Busy Times
I get it; you're busy juggling orders and managing the chaos in the kitchen.
But here's the secret – mentorship doesn't have to be time-consuming.
It's about quality, not quantity.
A few minutes of focused guidance can make a lasting impact on your chefs.
If it matters, then schedule that shit.
Celebrating Small Wins
Remember the first time you successfully built a raft in a pot of consume and didn't have to call anyone for help?
Small victories matter.
Celebrate every achievement in your kitchen, from perfectly seasoned dishes to flawlessly timed orders.
It's these small wins that build the foundation for culinary team cohesion.
The Ripple Effect of Mentorship
Imagine tossing a pebble into a pond, creating ripples that reach the farthest corners.
Mentorship works the same way.
By investing time in mentoring, you're not just shaping individual chefs but changing the culinary landscape.
The question is, "What kind of ripple do you want to leave behind? "
Precession
Buckminster Fuller coined a term (one he borrowed from the science of physics) called "The Precessional Effect.".
As defined here, "a body in motion, precession is any action or movement that occurs at 90 degrees to its main direction of motion."
He postulated that "an entity’s goal and purpose are at 90 degrees to each other."
We think that we became chefs because we love to cook.
But what if our true purpose, instead of our stated goal of becoming a chef, was to teach and mentor others into the secret ways of the mature professional?
You know, the way a mature professional understands that:
✔️A setback is nothing more than a chance to become 1% better than yesterday instead of an indictment of who they are as a person.
✔️ That self-regulation is a good thing and something to embrace.
✔️ That delayed gratification is a critical part of the maturation process.
✔️That "WE" is more important than "ME".so
Understanding 'the precessional effect" and its influence on our lives (as expressed as a "system") can be so liberating.
Once you realize that your goal and purpose may be different, you'll have more grace and forgiveness for yourself. From time to time, the shift of your focus between these two forces becomes less confusing, and you begin to feel congruent with who you are at your core.
A Peek into the Future
Close your eyes and envision a kitchen filled with passionate, skilled chefs who love their work.
That's the future we're striving for—a culinary world where mentorship transforms ordinary kitchens into extraordinary culinary havens.
In our journey through the culinary landscape, we've explored the power of mentorship in overcoming the staffing crisis.
The key ingredients are patience, leading by example, fostering a supportive environment, and celebrating small wins.
Now, it's time to spice up your kitchen and embrace a new era of culinary success.
Call to Action
Chef, it's time to don the aprons of change.
Embrace mentorship, nurture your team, and witness the culinary magic unfold.
Share your experiences, inspire others, and create a kitchen revolution together!
The culinary world awaits your transformative touch.
Stay Tall & Frosty
Chef Adam M Lamb
Producer & Host
Chef Adam M. Lamb is a veteran culinary professional, leadership coach, and the passionate voice behind Chef Life Radio, the go-to podcast for chefs seeking success, sanity, and transformation in the hospitality industry. With over 30 years of experience in high-pressure kitchens, Adam has worked globally, leading teams and mentoring chefs to thrive in their careers without sacrificing their well-being. Adam empowers culinary leaders with the tools to navigate burnout, build resilient teams, and create kitchen cultures that inspire growth and collaboration. His no-nonsense, real-talk approach helps chefs reclaim their passion, purpose, and process, proving that success in the culinary world doesn’t have to come at the cost of mental and emotional health. Join Adam on Chef Life Radio, where he shares industry insights, leadership strategies, and personal stories to help chefs confidently lead, cultivate meaningful careers, and keep the fire alive—both in and out of the kitchen.
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