How to Turn Good Managers Into Great Leaders

You cannot operate a successful restaurant without both good management and good leadership, even if it has to be provided by the man or woman in the mirror: you.

For smaller operators, that might be fine in the early years of business, but few restaurant owners want to spend their careers as restaurant managers. Unless you are simply trying to create a job for yourself, you need to either hire good management talent or at least cultivate management skills among current staff members.

Upon reaching such a point, where you have been able to develop a strong manager or team of managers, you are to be congratulated. More than likely it was an exhausting process in the selection and/or training; however, it means that the day-to-day operation of the business is relatively smooth. It also means that you have time to work on larger issues in the business, such as strategy, marketing and business development. That takes you to the issue of "leadership."

As a restaurant owner, you will most likely never entirely be relieved of the role of "leader." For most operators, the dream of retiring to a tropical island to collect a monthly check while someone else runs the show back home is just that - a dream. That said, the growth and sustainability of your operation may be limited by your ability to cultivate other leaders in the organization. These are managers who not only can keep the machinery of the business functioning well, but also can assist you in motivating staff, promoting the business, dealing with crises and, in general, work "on" the business.

If you are at the point at which you have strong management talent, you might want to consider how to take them to the next step as business leaders. In this article, we will explore how to move your managers along in their development to this next level.