An Open Letter to Chefs: How Cooking Mirrors Leadership

To my fellow chefs,

We often think of the kitchen as a place of creativity and pressure, but it is also one of the greatest classrooms for leadership. Every ingredient and every plate hold lessons about patience, adaptability and teamwork. Cooking is not only an art form, it is a mirror that reflects how we show up as leaders.

Preparation Builds Trust

Every great dish begins long before the first order is called. A successful service depends on preparation, organization, and trust in your team. Mise en place is more than chopped herbs and ready sauces, it represents structure and communication.

In a well-run kitchen, there is no “I” in team. Every station has a purpose, every cook has a role and together they form a rhythm that only works when everyone stays in their lane. Clarity builds confidence, and confidence builds trust.

Leaders who prepare with intention create calm in the chaos. They plan and delegate. They make sure everyone understands not only their duties but also their importance to the whole. The confidence to lead begins in the prep, not in the moment of fire, but in the quiet before it.

The Heat Reveals Character

Every chef knows that kitchens run hot. When the pressure rises, so do emotions. Leadership is not tested when things are easy, it shows when the heat is on.

True leadership is steady. It listens and keeps composure even when the line is backed up and the clock is unforgiving. The best leaders do not shout to be heard; they model calm so others can follow it. Consistency in your energy and your expectations builds reliability, and reliability builds loyalty.

Respect yourself and your teammates. In a kitchen, tone and temperament spread faster than the aroma of garlic. A leader who respects their crew creates an environment where everyone can thrive, no matter how intense the shift becomes.

In both cooking and leadership, grace under pressure separates those who survive from those who inspire.

Taste as You Go

A dish evolves as you build it. You taste, adjust and refine until the flavors find balance. Leadership is no different. You check in, listen to feedback and make changes when something feels off.

The best leaders are not rigid. They understand that refinement is part of growth. Every person on the team adds a layer of flavor, and when all those elements come together, the result is harmony.

Dedication and balance (both personal and professional) are essential here. Without a solid foundation of these pillars, long-term, sustained success is not achievable. A great leader knows when to push and when to pause, when to demand excellence and when to give grace.

Clean as You Cook

Every chef knows the value of working clean. Wiping the station, clearing clutter and maintaining order keeps service smooth. The same rule applies to leadership.

Clean as you go means resolving issues before they build up. It means addressing conflict with honesty and keeping your environment clear enough to stay focused on the bigger picture.

The greatest lesson we learned from the pandemic is that awareness of our mental health must be part of that system. The kitchen thrives on intensity, but that energy must be balanced with care. Having a plan, a system or a support network to address stress and burnout isn’t optional, it’s essential. A healthy leader builds a healthy team.

Leadership requires humility, awareness, and responsibility for the messes that inevitably happen along the way.

Share the Plate

The final dish belongs to the guest, but the success behind it belongs to the team. Leadership is not about taking credit, it is about creating opportunity. It’s about mentoring the next cook, celebrating progress and lifting others as you climb.

Great chefs know that the kitchen is a family. The structure of a brigade works because of clearly defined roles and mutual respect. When everyone stays in their lane while supporting one another, the system works beautifully. Leadership is not just what happens at the pass; it is built in every conversation, every correction and every shared meal after a long night.

The Heart of Leadership

Cooking and leadership are both acts of service. Both require passion, humility, and care for people. The work is never truly about just us, it’s about creating something meaningful for others.

To every chef who teaches, guides and inspires: remember that your influence reaches beyond the plate. A balanced, respectful and mentally strong leader lifts both their family at home and their family in the kitchen.

Keep leading with heart, keep cooking with intention and keep showing the world what it means to create with purpose.