In this episode of Hospitality Reinvented, Doug Radkey breaks down one of the biggest misconceptions in bars, restaurants, and hotels: the belief that onboarding and training are the same thing.

Quick hint: They’re not.

Training teaches tasks. Onboarding builds confidence, clarity, culture, and long-term performance.

Doug explores why the onboarding experience begins beforeday one, which is through job ads, interview processes, communication, expectations, and leadership presence.

He also explains why hiring for values, attitude, and coachability matters more than hiring purely for experience.

Inside this episode:

Why weak onboarding creates turnover before training evenbegins

How job ads shape the type of people you attract

The hidden impact of pre-first-day communication

Why “shadowing” is not a training system

How onboarding affects retention, culture, accountability,and guest experience

If your team is inconsistent, constantly rehiring, or struggling to maintain standards, this episode will challenge how you think about building people and protecting culture.