National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF)’s Post

Sam Fonseca, Founder of  Restaurant Leadership Academy, highlights the hidden complexities behind running a restaurant. He shares why understanding these challenges is crucial to overcoming operational hurdles and achieving success. Full episode 👉 https://bit.ly/3AhjpaM #RestaurantLeadership #Operations #HospitalityInsights

Excited to be attending Restaurant Leadership Conference next Monday (well really Sunday) in Phoenix. This is my favorite conference of the year for a couple of reasons. I find the hallway connections are always great (the people you bump into at this conference are the widest array of concept's and scale). There is a nice mix of vendors as well and there is time to dig into items (whether that's with existing vendors or new potential vendors you can actually have time for a conversation). Informa Connect has clearly put a ton of thought into making sure there is enough time for these informal periods and the opening day activities are always fun (did a tequila tasting/cocktail making class last year and the year before some go kart racing). The drinks sessions, lunch periods etc. all facilitate and foster this seamless mixing. Finally I find that it's at a great time of the calendar right after Q1 has ended and we have been able to assess what's going right so far this year and what isn't. I find that other attendees are in a similar boat and thus the conversations are more vibrant and more focused. I do strongly suggest that operators of all sizes attend conferences like this one as the learning and development allows you to gain knowledge faster and from those further along the scaling journey than you are. Make time to work on your business rather than simply in the business as it will make you a far better operator. Not a sponsored post in anyway but just wanted to share my thoughts. Drop a comment below if you are attending as I'd love to see you there.

In the service industry, it's easy to settle for mediocrity and go through the motions. But what if we challenged ourselves to go above and beyond for our customers? Will Guidara, former co-owner of the world's best restaurant, believes that "unreasonable hospitality" is the key to creating unforgettable experiences. However, many businesses struggle to implement this concept, either due to lack of leadership, training, or simply fear of stepping outside the norm. What's holding you back from providing exceptional service?

Sam Fonseca, Founder of Restaurant Leadership Academy, reflects on how his early experiences at In-N-Out Burger shaped his passion for the restaurant industry. Now, he’s on a mission to help owners optimize their operations with the OPS method. Full episode 👉 https://bit.ly/3AhjpaM #RestaurantLeadership #Operations #BusinessGrowth

In the restaurant business, preparation is crucial. It's not just about starting strong, but finishing strong that counts. Your capacity to rebound from mistakes defines your success. Every setback, whether it's handling guest complaints or personal obstacles, is a chance to grow. With resilience and determination, you can become stronger and more capable. Gain leadership inspiration at FSR Magazine! #CareerJourney #RestaurantIndustry #Resilience

Building a Strong Team: Reclaiming Family Time Our dedicated young team is transforming our restaurant, allowing us to focus on what matters most: family. Learn how we overcame the challenges of restaurant life, balancing work and family, and the joy we've found in spending quality time together. #TeamBuilding #FamilyTime #WorkLifeBalance #RestaurantSuccess #EntrepreneurJourney #Leadership #BusinessGrowth #YouthEmpowerment #QualityTime #FamilyBusiness

Big 'Restaurant Leadership Conference' takeaways here in 13 mins (or ~9 at 1.5 speed) includes: - balancing pricing & labor shifts - tech & big data in hospitality - people strategies, happy folks make for happy guests - boom of Eatertainment options

When the head chef comes out to check in. What does it look like to be really intentional as a leader? Last night we shared some amazing food with even more amazing friends. Mid way through our meal, the head chef came out and checked in. He asked how our experience was. He told a quick story about his passion and his other restaurants. You could see the passion in him. You could see the intentionality. He was genuinely interested in creating an amazing experience for us. So how about you? Are you this passionate about your craft? Are you this dedicated to ensuring your patients, your team, your people are having the intended experience? Or are you accidentally achieving the results you are seeing? Are you choosing to show up intentionally each day? Or are you stuck in a rut? Going through the motions and wondering where the passion went? Ruts happen and that’s ok. What isn’t ok is staying there! How about trying one of these today to get back in the game- ✅ revisiting WHY you do what you do ✅ writing down the experience you want your people to have ✅ slowing down and doing one thing very well and very intentionally. ✅ being grateful for 10 things. Write them down. Gratitude is an amazing rut-breaker. How will you be intentional today?

🌱 This is how you can manage stress in the restaurant industry? Incorporating just 10 minutes of meditation daily can work wonders! 🧘♂️ Learn how right here https://lnkd.in/gPbKM92r Reduce stress, boost patience, and enhance problem-solving skills. 🚀 Take the first step towards becoming a more effective and resilient restaurant leader today! Who shares my perspective? #Meditation #RestaurantIndustry #LeadershipSkills

During the Restaurant Leadership Conference, Freddy's CMO, Laura Rueckel, joined executives from CAVA and Red Lobster for a roundtable discussion about people strategies. Check out Nation's Restaurant News' follow-up article below for the biggest takeaways! #fastcasual #restaurants #strategy