Pradyumn Gupta’s Post

Is your kitchen team truly feeling the love? It's easy to forget that our greatest asset is not what's in our cooler but who's standing behind the stove. Staff retention isn't just about filling positions—it's about fostering a work environment where individuals feel valued, motivated, and heard. Don't just ask for commitment; earn it by showing genuine appreciation. Small gestures, whether through personalized feedback, opportunities for growth, or simply recognizing effort during a busy service, can create a culture of loyalty. And when employees feel recognized and valued, that’s when culinary magic happens. What strategies have you found effective in retaining your top talent? Share your tips below! 🍴✨ Stay Tall & Frosty Adam Lamb 📥 save for later 💬 comment with your thoughts ♻️ repost and share the love. #CulinaryLeadership #HospitalityProfessionals #RestaurantManagement #FractionalCulinaryDirector #KitchenEfficiency #LeadershipDevelopment #EmployeeRetention #StaffTurnover #KitchenStress #LeadershipSkills #StaffRetention #CulinaryInnovation #TeamBuilding #HospitalityIndustry

𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙞𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙠𝙚𝙮 𝙩𝙤 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙗𝙪𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙨𝙪𝙘𝙘𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙣 "𝙪𝙣𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙮 𝙝𝙤𝙨𝙥𝙞𝙩𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙚" 𝙘𝙪𝙡𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙚? When I saw a cameo of Will Guidara on The Bear, I was inspired to re-read his book, Unreasonable Hospitality. While it appears to be about the high end restaurant biz, it's a thinly veiled manifesto about both leadership and team culture. His message may be even more beneficial in 2024? Exceed expectations in ways that make people feel seen, heard, and valued, employees and customers alike. When you invest in going the extra mile for your people, it’s not just about kindness, it’s about fostering loyalty, engagement, and a sense of belonging. And here's the kicker: when your team feels truly empowered to deliver excellence, they’re more innovative, connected, and invested in the company’s success. In a world where “good enough” is often the bar, Guidara says why not blow past it? Here’s to creating a culture where hospitality isn’t just for guests, but is woven into the everyday interactions within your teams. What’s one “unreasonable” thing you’re doing to elevate your workplace culture? I'd love to hear about it. #Leadership #ThrivingCulture #UnreasonableHospitality #BusinessSuccess

Is less = more? Danish restaurant chain Sunset Boulevard has the people and the data to prove it can be.    CEO Jens Broch and his team are ahead of the curve when they think about people. A few years ago they took a bold shift from traditional performance metrics, embracing a revolutionary approach that prioritizes behavior focuses on behaviors that drive long-term success. Why this shift? It turns out, focusing on employee behavior can significantly enhance job satisfaction and influence overall business outcomes. This approach is not just about being unconventional—it's about being strategic. By rewarding behaviors that employees can control, like customer service quality and teamwork, Sunset Boulevard is fostering an environment where motivation and job satisfaction soar. And the numbers don’t lie: 94% of Sunset Boulevard’s employees see their work as meaningful  82% feel they’ve become more efficient  What does this mean for us as leaders in our industries? Are we too fixated on short-term gains at the expense of sustainable growth? How can we more effectively influence positive behaviors that drive our long-term goals? I’m curious to hear your thoughts. How are you measuring success in your teams, and what behaviors do you encourage to achieve it? #WorkplaceCulture #EmployeeEngagement #VisionaryLeadership

Such a wonderful time spent with Choice Hotels EMEA team! When leadership fosters memorable experiences that elevate the employee journey, personal values align seamlessly with company values: Be bold, Be quick, Listen, Be Curios, Show Integrity. It starts with investing in yourself. And we all remembered that culture eats strategy for breakfast. Instead, we have enjoyed the workshop where we cooked and ate strategy for dinner. #CompanyCulture #EmployeeExperience #ValuesAlignment #LeadershipDevelopment

🌟 Building Trust in the Workplace 🌟 In the fast-paced world of the restaurant industry, it's easy to get caught up in operations and forget the human side of our business. Taking small moments to connect personally with our employees is essential. By investing time in understanding their needs and building genuine relationships, we foster trust and loyalty. This connection not only enhances employee satisfaction but also contributes to a stronger team and better results. Remember, a happy team leads to happy guests! Let’s prioritize these moments and watch our restaurant thrive. 💪❤️ #Leadership #TeamBuilding #EmployeeEngagement #RestaurantLife

Missing Link? I think not!  They are right there!  Right there in the photo 👇 That's Link! When you think about a major out of state move or just moving in general, What’s the first thing that comes to mind? For many, moving is up there on the list of life's most stressful events. For me, I was so thrilled to be coming home to Chicago and the dairy free icing on my GF Chicago cake was Link! We met Link Van Winkle at U-Haul when purchasing boxes and renting a one-way van and car trailor. Link is just Ka-POW of WOW!!!! Link is a one-in-a bajillion MVP! Link embodies hospitality and makes it their mission to go way above and beyond to create an unforgettable customer experience! Their friendliness, professionalism and positivity are just part of their DNA! I wrote an email to their General Manager, Jordan Derricotte who was thrilled to received the feedback. His gracious reply included the following: I think you’d find it gratifying to know that Link was recently promoted from my assistant general manager, working right beneath our marketing company president alongside myself and 15 other managers! Jordan – your value driven leadership and fostering safety and belonging gives permission for people to shine and show-up at their best! You not only set the tone of your culture, both you and Link raise the bar for all! Link – I am indeed delighted by you and for you!  Mostly, I amt thrilled to know there’s a YOU!  Is there a missing link in your culture? #belongingatwork #DEI #leadership #employeeengagement #inclusiveleadership

Celebrating and elevating Jorge Alvarez, Tiana Day, and Angela Richard, M.Ed. who engaged in a thought leadership session with the Taco Bell Foundation X CoLabL on Gen Z. Some of the🔥actionable insights we discussed include: 👉🏾 Be authentic in storytelling – focus on the full "human experience" and not just moments of success. Tell the story leading up to the success.   👉🏾 Be values-driven and confident in communicating those values internally and externally. Take a stand on issues that matter and be confident in communicating what your stand is and why it matters. 👉🏾 Ensure that feedback moves beyond the surface to inspire and inform change. Offer constructive feedback that is action-oriented and specific.   👉🏾 Focus on the 4 Cs – connection, curiosity, context, and co-creating. How are we building and managing connections that are less transactional and more relational? How are we balancing teaching and learning together plus finding the confidence/courage to ask questions and dig deeper to understand each other and the issues we are aiming to address. Are we taking time to share context including the why behind decisions, tasks, and goals? Are we ensuring that there are seats at the table for those impacted by decisions and strategy – inviting them to share perspectives and co-create solutions to challenges plus strategies for growth. Special thanks to Jennifer Walker Bradbury for collaborating on the session plus all of the Taco Bell Foundation board members and committee members for joining the staff for this session! When we are intentional about pausing, zooming out, and learning together, we individually and collectively drive change and innovation both in our mindset and actions. #continuousimprovement #CSR #socialimpact #futureofwork #genZ #management #inclusion #belonging #equity #HR #HRCommunity #philanthropy #change #earlycareer #professionaldevelopment

Why does every hospitality business say, “Our people are our greatest asset,” yet only a few actually prove it? In the hospitality industry, we hear all the time about the importance of people—how they are the backbone of the business, the face of the brand, the heart of the experience. Yet, too often, it stops there. Many companies make sweeping promises about growth, training, and opportunities for their teams. But in reality? Sometimes, it’s just words. Recently, I heard a restauranteur share a simple, powerful perspective that really hit home. He was asked, “Why invest in training your team so thoroughly, knowing they might leave someday?” His answer was unforgettable: “I’d rather train them well and see them leave than not train them and watch them stay.” This mindset is what sets exceptional hospitality leaders apart. Investing in people doesn’t just enhance their skills—it shows respect, builds loyalty, and fosters a sense of purpose. It says, “You matter here.” And it does more than that: it builds a powerful HR brand. When other restaurants hire your team members and see their expertise, they’ll know exactly where they came from. And let’s not forget that staff talk among themselves. Word spreads, and you have a choice—do you want to be known as “the best employer I’ve ever had,” or as the company everyone warns others about? I feel like when companies are genuinely committed to their team’s growth, people want to stay. They want to contribute and give back. They bring that energy to every guest, every experience, and every shift. That’s the type of culture that turns guests into regulars and employees into advocates. #Hospitality #Leadership #teambuilding #EmployeeExperience #restaurants

🚀 Last week, Kelsey (Cunniff) Fazio, Jeremy Terman, and I had the pleasure of representing 7shifts at the 858 Partners x CREATE conference in Nashville. The conference explored the future of the restaurant industry by highlighting emerging restaurateurs, innovative technologies, and the leaders driving change. My biggest takeaway? The shift towards a people-first culture is gaining momentum in the industry. Topics like employee retention, development, compensation, and engagement—once common only in corporate settings—were key themes throughout the conference. It’s clear that investing in employees is becoming recognized as a path to profitability, and a people-first mindset will soon be the norm in restaurants, just as in other industries. I'm proud to be part of an organization that helps restaurants foster a culture of continuous improvement and team empowerment. Looking forward to continuing to support the industry’s shift towards a people-first future. What steps are you taking today to build a people-first culture with your team? #RestaurantTech #PeopleFirst #RestaurantIndustry #EmployeeEngagement #7shifts #CREATE858 #ContinuousImprovement

“Do everything with a good heart and expect nothing in return, and you will never be disappointed.” This quote perfectly encapsulates the essence of true hospitality. In the hospitality industry, we strive to create positive experiences for our guests, and often the most rewarding moments come from those small gestures of kindness that go above and beyond. Here are a few ways to cultivate a culture of hospitality within your team: Lead by Example: As a leader, your actions and enthusiasm set the tone for your team. Let your passion for hospitality shine through in your interactions with guests and staff. Empower Your Team: Give your employees the autonomy to make decisions and personalize the guest experience. Recognize and celebrate their successes in creating those special moments. Invest in Training: Provide ongoing training that equips your team with the skills and knowledge to deliver exceptional service. This includes fostering a deep understanding of your company's service standards and the importance of genuine hospitality. Recognize and Reward: Acknowledge and celebrate team members who go the extra mile to create memorable experiences. By fostering a culture of hospitality, you'll create a workplace where employees feel valued and empowered to deliver exceptional service. This will translate into guest experiences that leave a lasting positive impression. What are your tips for cultivating a culture of hospitality? Share your thoughts in the comments below! #hospitality #leadership #culture #employeengagement I can't include the image itself in the post, but the text captures the essence of the quote and translates it into actionable tips for creating a culture of hospitality.