Chris Thomas, MBA, SPHR’s Post

Here's a straight-up truth: You are a reflection of the company you keep. Sure, money talks, but let's speak a different language for a moment. Building a powerhouse team isn't solely about dollar signs; it's about shared values, trust, and crafting an infectious culture. Remember, great teams don't just happen; they're nurtured through trust and authenticity. Don't underestimate your team for seeing through facades – authenticity always shines through. 🤝 Join me on this journey as we compose a winning culture that resonates for miles in your restaurant! #Success #TeamworkMakes #RelationshipMatters

Creating the plan is just half the battle. Communicating it clearly to your team is the most important part. If you can't convey your plan to your team, well, it's like speaking a different language. 🌐 And here's a pro tip: if you're not the one to lead by example, the plan's bound to fail. Your team's willingness to dive into the plan is the secret ingredient to your restaurant's success. Without it, things might just go off track. Click the link in my bio 👉 for more tips on how to build your winning team. #EffectivePlanning #TeamEmpowerment #RestaurantSuccess

Optimize your team dynamics. 🌐 It's time for a strategic team evaluation! Identify and bid farewell to the 20% holding your restaurant back. Let go of negative energy vampires, and pave the way for a positive, thriving culture. Elevate your team for success! Ready to build the dream team? Click the link in my bio ☝️. #PositiveVibes #TeamOptimization #PositiveCulture

Last week was our Q1 team meeting. And while this could have been a boring or uninspired day, that’s not really how I roll. This year we are focusing on "Unreasonable Hospitality” and inspired by a story from the book, we introduced the hot dog challenge to our team dynamic. The hot dog challenge tells the story of a restaurant owner who went above and beyond, turning a simple desire for a NY hot dog into a memorable dining experience (after it was plated up at an award winning restaurant despite not being on the menu). The hot dog challenge became our way of re-imagining the ordinary. Each team member took turns creating thoughtful and meaningful gifts for others, turning seemingly insignificant moments into something extraordinary. It became an avenue for team bonding, allowing us to understand each other on a deeper level. This initiative not only transformed how we approach compliance but also aligned with our company's core value of joy. We realized that fostering a positive, light-hearted environment is crucial, not just for team morale but also for delivering top-notch service to our clients. As we delve into the intricacies of compliance, we carry this spirit of joy with us. Every task, every meeting, and every interaction are opportunities to infuse delight and align our actions with our vision. Compliance isn't just about rules and regulations; it's about creating a journey filled with joy, teamwork, and exceptional experiences. Have you taken the time to get your team on board with your bigger vision for the year? I did, and I can tell you this is making huge changes to our outlook already. #compliancenerd #unreasonablehospitality

🌟 Team Success through Spanish Tapas! 🌮🍷 Just wanted to share a great team-building activity we did yesterday – a Spanish Tapas Extravaganza! Our team traded spreadsheets for spatulas and gathered in the kitchen to whip up some mouthwatering tapas delights. In the hustle and bustle of our professional lives, it's easy to get caught up in deadlines and projects. But here's the thing – success isn't just about hitting targets; it's also about the people you share the journey with. 🚀💡 Taking a pause from the grind allowed us to connect on a personal level, share stories, and discover hidden culinary talents within our team. Beyond the conference room, beyond the virtual meetings, it's these moments that truly solidify the bonds that make a team strong. Discover below some of the culinary masterpieces and the smiles that came with them 📸. Each dish was a reflection of our unique skills coming together, just like in the workplace. #teamworkmakesthedreamwork #theinsiders #teamspirit Bjorn Cassier Jochen Mikesz Peter Van Mol Lenka Van der Elst juana Z. Magdalena Bębas, Joris Wenting Tobias Mol Ngoc Tran Ibrahim B. Blushok

I quite liked this paragraph from a book "Unreasonable Hospitality : the remarkable power of giving people more than they expect" by Will Guidara, general manager of Eleven Madison Restaurant (one of the top restaurants in the world). "We had a radical idea of what the guest experience could be and our vision was unlike any other out there. "You're not being realistic," someone would invariably tell us, every time we contemplated one of our re-inventions. "You're being unreasonable." That word "unreasonable" was meant to shut us down - to end the conversation, as it often does. Instead, it started one, and became our call to arms. Because no one who ever changed the game did so by being reasonable. Serena Williams. Walt Disney. Steve Jobs. Martin Scorcese. Prince. Look across every discipline, in every arena - sports, entertainment, design, technology, finance - you need to be unreasonable to see a world that doesn't exist yet." In one of the episodes, Guidara overheard one of the guests say that their only regret was that they were leaving the city without having eaten a classic New York street food hot dog. He seized the moment through an act of what he would later call “unreasonable hospitality”: He raced out of the restaurant to a hot dog vendor, bought a few hot dogs, brought them back to his kitchen and asked the chef to plate them, and then he served the hot dogs to the guests, much to their surprise and delight. My challenge to all of you as you build your companies is to ask : "Are we being unreasonable enough in what we are aspiring to do? Our roadmap? Our go to market and alliance plans? Our recruiting standards?". Let's keep raising the bar together, dream the impossible, and be unreasonable with each other. I encourage you to pause and say in the next meeting "are we thinking crazy enough together : and 10x or only 10%?" #leadership #thinksafeorinteresting #unreasonablehospitality #ciso #security

🌟 Have you ever wondered what the sound of collaboration and connection sounds like? It's the vibrant noise that filled the air at RestaurantPoint West! 🎶 📣 Imagine yourself amid an energetic crowd, where the buzz of excitement mingles with the clinking of glasses, the sizzle of culinary delights, and the laughter of like-minded professionals. This is the symphony of RestaurantPoint West, where business and pleasure beautifully intertwined. 🍽️🤝 📹 Check out our short video that takes you on a delightful journey through a sea of this year's RestaurantPoint attendees. Watch as conversations spark, ideas ignite, and friendships are forged. You're witnessing firsthand the power of collaboration and the magic of connection. ✨ 🌟 RestaurantPoint West is not just an event; it's an experience that will leave you inspired, motivated, and ready to take your business to new heights. From innovative solutions to invaluable networking opportunities, this is where the industry's best minds gather to shape the future of restaurants. 🍴💡 💼 Don't miss out on this incredible opportunity to be a part of the action. Join us at RestaurantPoint West 2025 in Houston, Texas, and let the noise of collaboration and connection propel your success. 🚀 📧 For more information on how you can be a part of RestaurantPoint West 2025, reach out to Vanessa Fillip at [email protected] or Jason Wood at [email protected] #RestaurantPointWest #CollaborationAndConnection #RestaurantIndustry #Networking #Innovation #BusinessSuccess #Inspiration #EventExperience #MakeSomeNoise

2 days of team building activities for our newest client, Schreiber Foods Getting ready to impart lots of learning, laughter, and fun. At Teambuilding Global, we love what we do, and here's why: 1) We thrive on fostering connections and unity among teams. 2) Seeing smiles and hearing laughter during our activities is the ultimate reward. 3) Every session is a chance to learn and grow together. 4) We're passionate about making a positive impact on company culture. 5) Our job allows us to create memorable experiences that bring people closer. Stay tuned for updates on our adventure with Schreiber Dynamix! #Teambuilding #CompanyCulture #FunAtWork #SchreiberDynamix #TeambuildingActivities #TeamBonding #GroupActivities #Teamwork #OutdoorFun #IndoorGames #CorporateEvents #TeamBuildingGames #EmployeeEngagement #TeamSpirit #TeamUnity #LearningAndDevelopment #EmployeeEngagement #ClientSuccess #teambuildingfun #teambuildingactivity #teambuildingprofs #offsites #offsite

On Resilience and Leadership 🌟 Watching an old clip of Conan O’Brien, he spoke about the grind of hosting a talk show - how, despite being sick or tired, the show must go on. This struck a chord with me, especially reflecting on my own experiences and those of many in the hotel and restaurant industry. I’ve been ill, seriously at times, and I’ve seen colleagues face even harsher trials, from battling cancer to enduring profound personal losses. Yet, they show up to work, embodying a level of dedication that’s both admirable and humbling. #this is what the legendary #hotelmanagement and #restauranteurs understand more than the 98% of the rest, and they have policies procedures in place, but it starts with living it, being a role model that understands, empathizes, and knows it, from living it. #agree? #disagree? Love to hear your thoughts. This isn’t just about obligation. It’s about understanding that our teams and our guests rely on us, not just as individuals but as part of a greater whole. Coming to work in the face of adversity isn’t just a duty; it’s a testament to our commitment to each other - like exercising a muscle, or leaning on a friend in tough times. It's a reminder of the strength found in our collective resilience, and the importance of showing up, no matter what. Because at the end of the day, our roles are about more than just us; they're about the people we serve and the teams we're a part of. #Leadership #Resilience #Hospitality #hotels #hotelmanagement #fortheloveofhospitality #restaurant #ownership #mentors #thelife #conan #talkshow #thanks #coco