Daniel Kozawick, Executive Chef of Vanderbilt CC, encourages chefs to cultivate gratitude and compassion for teams, families and themselves.
As 2021 draws to a close I am sure most of us would agree that we have developed a deeper sense of appreciation for our teams, membership, and families. All three are essential to our success.
To quote Daniel Boulud, “To me, there’s no great chef without a great team.” Try plating up a party of 200 by yourself and then doing the dishes afterward, working a busy night on the line with no assistance, executing a wine dinner for 50 by yourself. No, thank you!
At a time when the labor market is tight and very competitive, we must value our teams.
We should take time to get to know our teams a little better and do our best to mentor them. With humility, let’s be patient when they make a mistake. We all make them, especially when we are trying something new or unfamiliar. Looking back through our careers I am sure most of us remember different times when staffing wasn’t so challenging and when supply chains were strong. I’m sure we all wish we were shown a little more gratitude. Given where we’ve come from, think about how much more we show gratitude to our teams for all they do.
At Vanderbilt CC, we have been blessed with a membership that has been very supportive. They understand the challenges with supply chains, limited staffing, and limited menus. With the support of the membership, we have exceeded most of our best years from a food sales perspective. Through trial and error, we have been able to increase menu options and continue to push the envelope, keeping the membership engaged. With so many dining options in Naples, it is always nice to know that they choose to dine with us multiple times a week.
Most of us are motivated by our love for our families. We get up every day and try to provide them with the best, even when things get tough. We’re not able to see them as much as we would like. During our busy season, we long to spend time with our families, but the demands of business are challenging at times. Let’s not take our families for granted either. A quick phone call or FaceTime chat can go a long way.
It’s hard to give from an empty cup, but make sure to save a portion to give when you arrive home. Make it a priority now and in 2022 to take time for yourself. This way you can better serve those who depend on you. 2021 is almost gone, but the lessons learned can guide you in the right direction for years to come.
