Nutrition & Foodservice Edge Magazine - March/April 2024 - 29

REFERENCES
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2. Leadership and Management Training
SUMMING IT UP
If your establishment's goal is to attract, retain and
develop top talent, then you'll want to include leadership
and management training as part of your workforce
development plan.
Effective leadership is crucial to the success of any
organization. So, it is important that we develop leaders
who can motivate, inspire, and foster a positive work
environment.
" Leadership and management
training educates workers on
how to be inclusive leaders, how
to communicate with empathy,
and how to provide constructive
feedback " ( " Broadening Workforce
Opportunities in the Restaurant
Industry, " 2023).
Perhaps the biggest takeaway, which has sort of been my
mantra my entire leadership career, has been to 'focus on
people.' In the foodservice industry, it's absolutely at the
center of what we do. We do nothing without our people.
Today more than ever we must pay attention to the needs of
the people in the organization. I think in most organizations,
workforce development is not held up as high as it should be.
CONFLICT IN THE
WORKPLACE
The idea of workforce development focuses on people
to achieve success in an organization. That growth and
prosperity of its people is the
success of an organization and is
an ultimate game-changer for the
foodservice industry (Mahmood,
2017).
3. Diversity, Equity, and
Inclusion (DEI) Training
Gone are the days where people
stayed at their employer solely for
good pay and benefits. Now more
than ever, respect and a culture of
belonging are associated with job
satisfaction and intent to stay.
Today, for a DEI program to be effective, 'change' must
appear on your company's menu...and everyone must order
it.
is not uncommon, nor is
it always a negative thing.
Conflict may indicate that
your team is standing up
for their beliefs and sharing
unique opinions.
We all want the best employees for
our establishments. But in order to
attract and keep them, we need to
first invest in foodservice training
and development, thus creating
opportunities for growth.
In time, strong foodservice
training programs will elevate
the skill level of every employee
in the establishment, boost staff
morale and motivation, help build
confidence, and improve overall performance.
Empowering employees to do their best work and allowing
them to share their perspectives and ideas are all benefits of
having a DEI training program in place. Implementing said
programs leads to an open and safe workplace environment,
where employees feel welcomed, valued, and supported
( " Broadening Workforce Opportunities in the Restaurant
Industry, " 2023).
Remember, with a motivated and skilled team, you will
attract the type of employees you want and encourage them
to grow their career with you! E
MICHAEL KOPEC, CDM, CFPP | mkopec@waukeshacounty.gov
Michael Kopec is the Food Service Specialist at the Waukesha County Mental Center
in Waukesha, Wisc., and has been a CDM, CFPP since 2001. He holds a B.S. in Business
Management & Leadership and an M.A. in Leadership & Innovation from Wisconsin Lutheran
College. He also serves as an advisory board member for the dietetic technician/dietary
manager program at Milwaukee Area Technical College.
NUTRITION & FOODSERVICE EDGE | MARCH-APRIL 2024 29
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