Training Articles (formerly Member Blog)

Embracing diverse employees and combating bias is essential for the success of hospitality organizations. Here are some ways you can diversify candidate sourcing, implement inclusive interviewing techniques, and ensure fair selection and onboarding practices to reduce bias in hiring.

Getting new employees trained up and ready faster gets them out onto the floor as soon as possible and allows them to start using what they’ve learned to have an impact on the guest experience right away. In addition to contributing to customer experience, training and onboarding also affect employee satisfaction, retention, and labor costs. These are just a few of the findings from the 2023 Restaurant Operations Report.

While language barriers can seem daunting, they should never prevent talented individuals from accessing training programs and professional growth opportunities. With empathy, adaptability, and the right strategies, training designers and facilitators can ensure English as a Second Language (ESL) participants are set up for success and build inclusive, world-class hospitality teams that tap into the unique value provided by immigrants and non-native speakers.

Michelle Obama shared a story in her memoir, "Becoming," about learning to play piano on an instrument with a chipped MIddle C key. This story made me reflect on how we tackle gaps in learner knowledge and skills in training programs.

We tend to think about our career paths as linear steps toward a goal on a map. But if we shift instead to aligning our personal interests and goals with career growth opportunities rather than specific offices or titles, we become more agile — able to spot and embrace unexpected and non-linear advancement opportunities.

Corban went from turtling at his first CHART conference all the way to conference director for Charlotte in 2024. Along the way, he learned some important lessons about the value of being involved and going "all in."

Human Resources and Training can function perfectly fine within their own bubbles, but more than any other departments in the hospitality world, the results of this dynamic duo’s combined efforts can spur both individual and collective growth among your teams and propel your business toward greater success.

Unconscious biases can negatively impact your business success as well as your guests' experiences. Though biases may be deeply ingrained, they are not insurmountable. Here are a few things you can do to minimize and counteract biases in every aspect of your business.

When organizations experience negative business indicators such as declining sales or bad reviews, the knee-jerk reaction of senior management may be to declare "We have a training problem." Here is how to respond, and how to help evaluate the wide variety of factors—including training—that may need improvement, so the focus can turn to evolving your company-wide strategy and operations.

The Jack In The Box E. coli outbreak wasn't just a news headline for me; it was a deeply personal and transformative experience. But from this tragedy emerged a renewed commitment to food safety and a reminder that food safety is not only a professional obligation but also a personal and moral one.

Leaders today must foster a supportive and positive climate—one where team members feel valued and heard. By weaving narratives and activities into learning experiences, leaders can connect with their teams on a deeper level and drive engagement, motivation, and growth.

Training is often looked at as a task and a quick solution to an immediate problem. However, if you think of your training role as a translator, you begin thinking not just about the tactical objective, but how what you’re doing impacts the entire organization.