Nutrition & Foodservice Edge Magazine - September/October 2021 - 11

Recipe
My
for Success
Karen Swift's Recipe for Success
* Be a leader and lead by example. When you show pride
in what you are doing, your staff will too. Hold meetings
with your cooks/chefs to discuss the menu before
cooking, and make sure to taste the food before it leaves
the kitchen.
* A Certified Dietary Manager, Certified Food Protection
Professional often wears many hats, so you must have
good time management skills.
* Work as a team within your department. Discuss ideas
with your employees and you will soon discover that
many of them have really good thoughts. Not only should
you work as a team within your department, but you also
need to work well with the other disciplines outside of
your department. One person can accomplish a lot, but
together we can accomplish more.
* If you want respect, you need to show respect. Respect
others.
* Do not be the foodservice director that stays in the office
all day. Be visible. Be involved with your staff. Be out
in the kitchen and the dining room. When you make
yourself visible, you have fewer complaints from residents
and their families.
* Not only should you have good written and verbal
communication, but you also need to be a good listener.
Having sound communication skills leads to a positive
work experience.
* Stay organized. Organization leads to
increased productivity, which results in less
stress and enhanced job satisfaction.
* Be flexible with your time and be able to
adapt to change. Do not plan your day in
advance because most of the time in this field,
your day will not go as planned, which leads
to frustration. You need to be able to adapt to
change.
* Cross-train your staff. When you rotate job
responsibilities it will help keep employees
driven, which will also increase productivity. If
you need someone to fill in for a position, they
will be ready.
* Be kind. It goes a long way! E
What I've
Learned from a
Career in Food
Service
Karen E. Swift, CDM, CFPP
Lexington, SC
ANFP Member Since 1999
KAREN SWIFT, CDM, CFPP is ServSafe certified and a Menu Specialist with Carolina Nutrition Consultants LLC in
Lexington, S.C. She is an active member of the Association of Nutrition & Foodservice Professionals and the South Carolina
ANFP Chapter. She currently serves on the Certifying Board for Dietary Managers, ANFP Leadership Committee, and is
Educational Chairperson for South Carolina ANFP. In 2017, Swift was awarded Certified Dietary Manager of the Year by the
South Carolina ANFP. Throughout her career, Swift has trained new CDM, CFPPs entering the field and has mentored many
others. She feels you are never too old to learn new things.
NUTRITION & FOODSERVICE EDGE | September-October 2021
11

https://www.anfponline.org/events-community/cdm-recognition/my-recipe-for-success

Nutrition & Foodservice Edge Magazine - September/October 2021

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