Coaching the new chef
April 8, 2010
A Kind Dining trainer, working in an Assisted Living community shared this story today after coaching their new chef about authentic hospitality. Being from the “hospitality” industry he kept referring to the residents as “our” guests. She politely corrected that here, we are actually the quests working in the residents’ home. He gave her words sincere thought and agreed, remarking that serving meals in the independent dining room was so similar to restaurant style service, like acting, and being on stage. She kindly explained there was no stage here that separates residents from servers. Our attitude of hospitality in serving here is not acting, but being genuine in our connections and building trustful on-going relationships as we touch the lives of people we serve at each meal. He smiled. She smiled and finishing her story to me, excitedly shared she couldn’t wait to get him into the Kind Dining classroom! She could see the wheels turning in his head, as he is beginning to understand how working in this community will be different.
