Kitchens – like any professional environment – need effective leadership. This means staying calm, promoting clear communication, and creating a learning environment where team members feel valued and motivated. Professional kitchens run well are the epitome of the We Not Me philosophy.

This week, Dan and Pia are joined by Simon Zatyrka, a former executive chef who’s spent most of his career in professional kitchens around the US. He’s the founder of the Culinary Mechanic, where he coaches chefs on leadership and building a positive culture in the kitchen, offering a mix of on-site and virtual consulting.

Three reasons to listen

• To understand the importance of team building and development in high-pressure environments
• To learn about the dynamics and leadership strategies used in professional kitchens
• To discover how to create a productive and positive culture within a team

Episode highlights

• [00:13:55] Inside a professional kitchen
• [00:23:56] Having key conversations
• [00:25:47] When communication breaks down
• [00:28:11] Just so you are aware
• [00:29:49] Simon's leadership tip
• [00:31:41] Takeaways from Pia and Dan

Links

• Connect with Simon via LinkedIn
• Unreasonable Hospitality: The Remarkable Power of Giving People More Than They Expect, by Will Guidara
• Team of Teams: New Rules of Engagement for a Complex World, by Stanley McChrystal, David Silverman, Tantum Collins and Chris Fussell
• Chef Journeys – Simon’s podcast
• Leave us a voice note