🌱 Coming in Hot: Lessons from a Leadership Transition
A 1 min read.
After a year and a half at Pizza e Vino, I was ready for a new challenge. The company had several restaurant concepts under its umbrella, and I wanted to grow alongside them. While I had proven myself as a strong operator, the long hours were straining my new marriage. My husband, Tyler, worked weekdays, and my late nights were causing tension. I knew something had to change.
If you like this excerpt from my book and would like to read more, email me at christinlmarvin@gmail.com for an advanced copy before the October 15th launch date.
I approached the owners with a proposal to create a new leadership role. This evolved into a position focused on marketing, human resources, new restaurant openings, and management development. I thrived in this role, from negotiating contracts and improving event bookings to implementing a corporate benefits package for the management team. However, stepping into a new leadership role came with unexpected challenges.
The biggest lesson? Earning trust is critical before implementing change. I jumped in quickly, eager to improve efficiency by introducing new systems like inventory management and POS software. But the teams resisted, viewing me as an outsider disrupting their familiar ways of working. In hindsight, I should have built relationships and explained the "why" behind my ideas. My failure to do so earned me the label of "black sheep" among some staff.
If you are interested in building a strong foundation to future your current and future managers and leaders into your restaurant, I can help. Let's connect at christinlmarvin@gmail.com
Despite the pushback, I found success in strategic changes, such as reconfiguring the dining room layout to accommodate more guests, which added significant revenue. These experiences taught me a valuable lesson: the importance of patience, collaboration, and earning trust. Leading a restaurant is not just about fresh ideas but about building respect and fostering open communication among teams.
If you found this story helpful and want to dive deeper into leadership lessons for hospitality, check out my book, The Hospitality Leader’s Roadmap: Move from Ordinary to Extraordinary. It’s packed with strategies for transforming your restaurant and building stronger teams. Available in paperback, ebook, and audiobook on October 15th on Amazon, this book will help you elevate your restaurant’s success. Don’t miss your chance to move from ordinary to extraordinary—grab your copy and take the next step in your leadership journey!
P.S.
For more leadership development, here are some additional resources for you:
My book, The Hospitality Leader’s Roadmap: Move from Ordinary to Extraordinary will be available on Amazon October 15th in paperback, ebook and audiobook.
Tune into the No Hesitations Podcast Episode 32 : How to Lead with Clarity : 5 Strategies for Effective Restaurant Management
Contact me for a strategy session about overcoming your biggest challenge at christinlmarvin@gmail.com and start transforming your mindset, your restaurant, and your life today!
