On her first night of flying solo as the executive dining room manager at Arbor Glen Senior Living, Amanda Velez had to coach her team through a fire drill. Without much direction, the employees at the Bridgewater, N.J., operation sprang into action. “My waitstaff and I began to assist all residents, running around like mad men, grabbing walkers, pushing wheelchairs—all the while trying to maintain calm,” she says. The chaos that ensued was a learning experience for Velez, who was in her early 20s at the time. Now, she knows to lead with confidence and by example. “I am a firm believer in everything stems from the top,” Velez says. “If I am stressed, it will reflect on my staff.”
Earning the respect and trust of a team can be tough. It can be even tougher as a 20-something. Here’s how young foodservice leaders win over their teams.