Turning the Table

Support for The Hospitality Industry:

To learn more about this episode, click here.

If you'd like to sponsor this show and get your company in front of 5,000 of the most progressive food and beverage operators, email us at adam@realignmentmedia.com

Tomas Stephensen at Podlike co-produced this episode.

If you'd like your podcast to sound as good as mine, click this link to get 15% off regular production costs.

The titles, show notes, social media, and blog content powered by Capsho

This is a production of Realignment Media

Revamping Your Workforce: How Michael Lennox Transformed Employee Care in Hospitality

Adam Lamb — Fri, 25 Aug 2023 04:00:00 -0500

Discover the shocking truth behind employee care and retention in the hospitality industry as Michael Lennox shares his revolutionary approach.

But when faced with the mounting pressure of high turnover rates, will his methods withstand the test or crumble under unfulfilled expectations?

"When in doubt, do right by your team and that'll take you where you need to get to." - Michael Lennox

In this episode, you will be able to:

Decode the landscape of the evolving restaurant industry during the current boom.
Understand the profound impact of aligning passion with a hospitality career.
Grasp the transformative power of open-air spaces in shaping restaurant atmospheres.
Uncover the survival tactics and modifications instigated by restaurants during the COVID-19 crisis.
Fathom the direct correlation between employee welfare and success in the hospitality ecosystem.

My special guest is Michael Lennox, President of Electric Hospitality.

Meet Michael Lennox, an individual whose drive to actualize his imaginative concepts led him to abandon a professional law career, harness his passion for food, and turn it into acclaimed restaurants under the Electric Hospitality banner.

His locations, such as Ladybird and Muchacho, embody his love for originality and outdoor enjoyment. Michael is passionately committed to finding innovative alternatives to the industry's recurrent obstacles.

His conviction that listening to the 'silent language of the space' can shed light on crafting unique, inviting spaces is a refreshing approach for restaurant owners and managers.

Through his own experience, he exemplifies Turning the Table's essence and offers invaluable insights related to employee retention and improving the hospitality industry.

The key moments in this episode are:

00:00:00 - The Current State of the Hospitality Industry,

00:02:48 - Introduction to Electric Hospitality,

00:09:43 - Transition from Law to Hospitality,

00:13:16 - Vision and Creativity in Space Transformation,

00:13:40 - Listening to the Space,

00:15:36 - The Need for Change in the Restaurant Industry,

00:19:06 - Going Above and Beyond to Support the Industry,

00:23:12 - Shifting Focus to Workforce Development,

00:26:46 - Compensation and Benefits at Electric Hospitality,

00:29:14 - Setting a New Standard in the Industry,

00:31:59 - Taking Care of Your Team,

00:33:31 - Investing in Skills and Career Development,

00:34:23 - Listening to Employee Feedback,

00:35:14 - The Importance of Growth,

00:35:48 - Fostering Creativity and Core Values,

Turning the Table is the most progressive podcast for today's food and beverage industry featuring staff-centric operating solutions for restaurants in the #newhospitalityculture.

Check out the videocast on

Support for The Hospitality Industry:

Click here for more information about this episode.

This show is sponsored by: Evocalize

Tomas Stephensen at Podlike co-produced this episode.

If you'd like your podcast to sound as good as mine, click this link to get 15% off regular production costs.

The titles, show notes, social media, and blog content powered by Capsho

This is a production of Realignment Media

Creating Memorable Experiences: TJ Schier's Secrets for Success in the Hospitality Industry

Adam Lamb — Tue, 22 Aug 2023 04:00:00 -0500

Witness the astonishing journey of TJ Schier, whose path took an unexpected turn, propelling him to the forefront of the competitive socializing industry.

"You have to keep your brand relevant and fresh. At some point, the new growth can't outpace the same-store sales decline." - TJ Schier

From his humble beginnings at Chuck E. Cheese Pizza, TJ's relentless drive and sharp business acumen led him to unimaginable heights.

But a surprising twist in his story set him apart, forever changing the game.

Brace yourself for an inspiring tale of transformation as TJ's unwavering passion continues to pave the way for a future filled with endless possibilities.

Prepare to embark on a journey that will leave you hungry for more.

In this episode:

Discover how the blend of sports, entertainment, and hospitality creates a distinctive customer experience.
Uncover the unforeseen growth of the golf industry during COVID-19 due to its natural alignment with social distancing requirements.
Dive into the trend of competitive socializing and its role in heightening food and beverage experiences.
Understand the critical role of tailoring guest experiences and simplifying menus in the restaurant industry.
Gain insights on the secrets of hiring and efficiently managing powerhouse teams in the hospitality realm.

The key moments in this episode are:

00:00:03 - Introduction,

00:01:04 - TJ's Background,

00:04:02 - The Concept of Big Shots Golf,

00:07:57 - Competitive Entertainment,

00:11:27 - Relevance and Future,

00:13:13 - Leadership Tips and Business Crushes,

00:15:51 - Anthem as a Separate Dining Space,

00:18:01 - Simplifying the Menu,

00:20:21 - Dealing with Turnover and Labor Costs,

00:24:28 - The Future of the Labor Challenge,

00:26:30 - The Importance of Structure and Technology in the Restaurant Industry,

00:27:28 - Smart Restaurant Guides for Better Operations,

00:28:11 - The Power of Networking and Learning,

00:28:36 - Leadership Lessons from the Driving Range,

00:29:42 - Business Crushes and Industry Reputation,

Turning the Table is the most progressive podcast for today's food and beverage industry featuring staff-centric operating solutions for restaurants in the #newhospitalityculture.

Check out the videocast on

Support for The Hospitality Industry:

Click here for more information about this episode.

This show is sponsored by: Evocalize

Tomas Stephensen at Podlike co-produced this episode.

If you'd like your podcast to sound as good as mine, click this link to get 15% off regular production costs.

The titles, show notes, social media, and blog content powered by Capsho

This is a production of Realignment Media

Taking the Culinary World by Storm: Propel Your Career with Expert Coaching

Adam Lamb — Sun, 20 Aug 2023 06:00:00 -0500

Do you want to enhance your culinary career and unlock greater growth opportunities?

Are you searching for a solution that can bring you improved career clarity and advancement in the culinary industry?

Then look no further!

By enlisting the expertise of a specialized career coach in the culinary field, you can achieve exactly that.

They hold the key to guiding you towards a more fulfilling and successful culinary journey, helping you reach your goals and aspirations.

"They just don't teach this stuff in culinary school" ~ Chef Adam Lamb

In this episode, you will be able to:

Discover how career coaching can drastically enhance your culinary career journey.
Delve into the profound impact of experience and knowledge on culinary success.
Appreciate the unique advantage a specialized culinary career coach offers.
Explore the significance of curiosity and humility in both personal and professional advancement.
Understand how fostering a supportive culinary culture can boost the growth of industry professionals.

The key moments in this episode are:

00:00:02 - Introduction,

00:00:32 - The Need for Career Coaching,

00:01:58 - Relatability of Career Coaches,

00:04:39 - Adam's Culinary Career Path,

00:10:43 - The Importance of Community and Belonging,

00:14:42 - Coaching and Mentoring in the Culinary Industry,

00:17:36 - Shifting Focus from Mission to People,

00:20:21 - The Difference Between Management and Mentorship,

00:23:58 - Choosing Consciously in the Culinary Industry,

00:25:15 - Changing the Culinary Industry Culture,

00:29:11 - The Coaching Process,

00:30:09 - Long-Term Growth,

00:30:33 - Changing Relationships,

00:35:09 - Identity and Purpose,

00:37:52 - Reconnecting with Guidance,

00:44:37 - Join the Chef Life Brigade,

00:45:00 - Contact Information,

00:45:25 - Immediate Help and Continuous Improvement,

00:45:54 - Pleasure and Key Takeaways,

00:46:37 - Connect and Support,

Turning the Table is the most progressive podcast for today's food and beverage industry featuring staff-centric operating solutions for restaurants in the #newhospitalityculture.

Check out the videocast on

Support for The Hospitality Industry:

This show is sponsored by: Evocalize

Tomas Stephensen at Podlike co-produced this episode.

If you'd like your podcast to sound as good as mine, click this link to get 15% off regular production costs.

The titles, show notes, social media, and blog content powered by Capsho

This is a production of Realignment Media

Unlocking Success: Geoff Alexander's Recipe for Restaurant Innovation

Adam Lamb — Tue, 01 Aug 2023 06:00:00 -0500

Get ready to be inspired by the extraordinary journey of Geoff Alexander, a true pioneer in the restaurant industry.

His story is filled with unexpected twists and turns that will leave you in awe. From humble beginnings to now standing in about 2,000 grocery stores, Geoff's path is a testament to the power of innovation.

But what unexpected twist propelled Wow Bao to such incredible heights?

Stay tuned to discover the surprising secret that unlocked Geoff's success.

In this episode, you will be able to:

Decode the benefits of infusing innovation into your restaurant business operations.
Utilize partnerships as a powerful tool to propel growth and geographic spread.
Explore the art of storytelling as a driving force in building a successful brand.
Delve into the importance of adaptive thinking and unconventional strategies for progress.
Learn how exceptional customer service can be your secret weapon in achieving customer satisfaction.

Our special guest is Geoff Alexander, President of Wow Bao and Managing Partner of Lettuce Entertain You Restaurant Company.

Meet Geoff Alexander—someone who's continually pushed culinary boundaries.

A New York native who planted his roots in Chicago, Geoff's swift rise in the restaurant industry can be attributed to his unique and innovative approach leading "Wow Bao," a delicious dough treat filled with hearty fillings, started small but has grown exponentially under his vision.

Geoff's fearless pursuit of novel ideas, complemented by his knack for evolving technology integration within his business, has allowed him to carve a distinct path in a fiercely competitive industry.

His story is a potent reminder that success results from relentless innovation and relentless hard work.

The key moments in this episode are:

(00:00:00) - Introduction,

(00:01:04) - Slow Adoption of New Ideas,

(00:03:11) - Background of Lettuce Entertain You and Wow Bao,

(00:06:58) - Growing the Brand with Limited Resources,

(00:09:39) - Innovating to Expand,

(00:14:03) - The Journey to Success,

(00:15:37) - Small Actions Lead to Growth,

(00:18:05) - Finding Opportunties in Unexpected Places,

(00:19:13) - Scaling and Delegating,

(00:21:03) - Thriving with Limited Resources,

(00:27:58) - Importance of Treating a Business Like a Business,

(00:29:33) - The Importance of Hospitality in the Restaurant Industry,

(00:31:14) - Balancing Technology and the Human Element,

(00:34:04) - Maintaining Brand Awareness and Packaging,

(00:36:59) - Personal Touch during the Pandemic,

Links Discussed During the Show

Wow Bao

Turning the Table is the most progressive podcast for today's food and beverage industry featuring staff-centric operating solutions for restaurants in the #newhospitalityculture.

Check out the videocast on

This show is sponsored by Evocalize, they make complex restaurant marketing push button simple.

Jim Taylor at Benchmark Sixty

Adam Lamb at Chef Life Coaching

Unlocking the Power of Mentorship: Creating a Fulfilling Work Environment in Food Service | Jeff Jamieson

Adam Lamb — Fri, 21 Jul 2023 06:00:00 -0500

Does this sound familiar?

You've been told to offer higher salaries or bonuses to improve employee retention, but it's not working. The pain of losing valuable team members and struggling to create a satisfying work environment is real.

In this episode, we'll explore a more effective approach - the power of mentorship in fostering loyalty and a fulfilling workplace.

Our special guest is Jeff Jamieson of Hangry Panda Hospitality in Calgary, Canada.

He's a passionate trailblazer in the hospitality industry, with deep roots that started at the age of 16 in Regina, Saskatchewan.

Now an industry veteran, Jeff has accumulated vast experience through various roles, eventually leading to him co-owning award-winning restaurant ventures. From humble beginnings as a dishwasher, Jeff's commitment to creating memorable dining experiences, and his emphasis on teamwork and integrity, can be attributed to insights from his mentors.

These values, combined with his remarkable entrepreneurial journey, make Jeff an excellent resource for those eager to harness the power of mentorship and create a fulfilling work environment.

Your Key Takeaways Will Be:

● Decipher the influential value of mentors in forging a successful hospitality environment.

● Break down the essence of enduring flexibility and resilience amidst obstacles.

● Comprehend the importance of employee mentoring and guidance in forging a gratifying work atmosphere.

● Acknowledge Gen Z's emphasis on work-life balance and the quest for job fulfillment.

● Unravel the significance of teamwork and independence in facilitating employee enhancement and business supervision.

To check out this episode in detail, including links to all of our research, resources we spoke about on the show, and more, click here.

Subscribe to our weekly Linkedin Newsletter and join over 2K other hospitality professionals, just like you at: https://bit.ly/3rrb6nX

Key Moments in the Conversation:

(00:00:02) - The Importance of Mentors

(00:02:19) - Celebrating Mentors

(00:06:00) -Jeff Jameson's Journey

(00:09:59) - Growth and Opportunities

(00:10:59) - The Resilience of Calgary Operators

(00:15:51) - The Intimacy of a Small Bar

(00:16:18) - Christmas Pop-Up Magic

(00:18:01) - The Importance of Mentors

(00:21:39) - Creating a Supportive Work Environment

(00:25:19) - Work-Friendship Balance

(00:32:32) - Good Retention in the Business

(00:33:38) - Mentorship and Finding Meaning

(00:35:43) - Gen Z's Impact on the Restaurant Industry

(00:38:10) - Shift in Perspective on Gen Z

(00:39:59) - Naming the Restaurants Collaboratively

(00:48:49) - Importance of Addressing Performance Gaps

(00:49:19) - Empowering Others Through Work

(00:49:56) - Managing Expectations

(00:51:55) - Importance of Mentors

(00:53:51) - Conclusion and Gratitude

Turning the Table is the most progressive podcast for today's food and beverage industry featuring staff-centric operating solutions for restaurants in the #newhospitalityculture.

Check out our Live videocast and be part of the show, every Thursday at 12 N ET on these channels.

Shannon Gewinner on Linkedin

This episode is made possible by Evocalize.

To learn more about how they make complex food and beverage marketing "push-button simple, check them out by clicking here.

Turning the Table is a production of Realignment Media.

AI Strategies for Smarter Restaurant Operations Balancing Automation and Human Touch

Adam Lamb — Tue, 18 Jul 2023 06:00:00 -0500

Unleash the Power of AI: Join Adam Lamb and Jim Taylor as they navigate the tantalizing potential and cautionary pitfalls of AI in the restaurant industry, aiming to empower operators while preserving the essential human touch.

But here's the unexpected twist: what if AI could also solve one of your biggest challenges?

Stay tuned to discover how AI can transform your restaurant and your entire approach to success.

"Specialization is so important because it's what you get known for, and people will start talking." - Jim Taylor.

Delve into the profound impact of AI on the restaurant industry, and why ignorance of it can be your business's pitfall.

The key moments in this episode are:

(00:00:00) - Breaking News: FTC Opens Investigation into Chat GPT Maker

(00:01:02) - AI Already in Our Lives

(00:03:09) - Hallucination and the Risks of AI

(00:07:20) - The Power of AI in Responding to Yelp Reviews

(00:08:28) - Exploring Chat GPT Capabilities and Applications

(00:15:25) - Understanding ROI and Budgeting for AI Technology

(00:16:09) - Customization and Engagement with AI Platforms

(00:19:19) - AI for Labor Shortages and Automation

(00:22:34) - Opportunities and Challenges of AI in Scheduling

(00:25:09) - AI in Customer Interaction and Service

(00:31:32) - Focusing on Hospitality with AI

(00:32:30) - Technology and Data Overload

(00:33:09) - Technology as a Solution

(00:33:35) - Thanking the Listeners

(00:34:09) - Call to Action

To learn more about this episode, including bonuses, links mentioned in the show and additional resources, click here.

This show is sponsored by Evocalize.

Turning the Table is a production of Realignment Media.

Please note show notes may contain affiliate links:

This Podcast is produced using Capsho; to get your show to sound this good, grab your 14-day free trial by clicking here.

Podpage makes our show look as good as it sounds; find out how easy a website builder can be and get 20% off your first month by clicking here.

Uncover the Secrets to Employee Retention in the Food and Beverage Industry

Adam Lamb — Mon, 10 Jul 2023 06:00:00 -0500

Picture yourself behind the wheel, exhausted and frustrated after a grueling day at your restaurant.

Buzzing notifications on your phone remind you of the endless tasks you haven't had time for. As you drive past a competitor's place, envy grips your heart.

Everything seems perfectly smooth with their bustling activity and the absence of waiting customers.

What's their secret, you wonder, as frustration and curiosity intertwine.

But little do you know, the answer lies not in money or location. Brace yourself for an unexpected twist that will forever change your perspective on running a restaurant and building a community of happy, motivated employees.

To learn more about this episode, click on the link for show notes and more.

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter by clicking here.

Grab the FREE Leader in Development Templates, by clicking here.

This show is sponsored by: Evocalize

Mastering Localized Marketing: How Evocalize Transforms Restaurant Campaigns

Adam Lamb — Mon, 10 Jul 2023 00:00:00 -0500

"The one thing that's constant in franchising is that it's always in flux; there's always change happening." ~ Shannon Gewinner

Are you tired of spending hours on marketing campaigns that seem to fall flat?

Have you heard these myths about localized marketing and personalized campaigns?

Let's debunk them together.

Myth #1: Localized marketing is only for big businesses with unlimited resources.

Myth #2: Personalized campaigns are too time-consuming and require advanced technical skills.

Myth #3: These strategies are only effective for online businesses.

Join our guest speakers, JR Hopwood and Shannon Gewinner, as they reveal the truth behind these myths and how localized marketing and personalized campaigns can transform your restaurant's customer engagement and drive better business growth.

In this episode, you will be able to:

1.) Discover how combining data and AI can revolutionize your restaurant's marketing approach.

2.) Uncover the convenience of Evocalize's platform when launching marketing campaigns for restaurant operators.

3.) Delve into the benefits of real-time personalization and locality for a more impact marketing campaign.

4.) Recognize the indispensable role brand consistency and control over messaging play in your marketing longevity.

5.) Learn about the transformative power of localized marketing and personalized campaigns for restaurants.

Our guests for today’s session are the powerhouse duo, JR Hopwood Jr., a savvy solutions consultant at Evocalize, who is instrumental in decoding the mysteries of localized marketing.

With a natural ability to steer businesses towards high-converting strategies, his reputation is undoubtedly high-powered.

On a similar note, Shannon Gewinner lends her expertise as the Vice President of Marketing at Smoothie King and works magic with her data-centered branding techniques. She's known for her stellar strategies and innovative problem-solving skills. Whether your enterprise needs a marketing revamp or a strategic boost, Shannon is the woman for the job.

Learn more about our guests:

Jr Hopwood on Linkedin

Click here to go to the website for more information, show notes, and links.

The resources mentioned in this episode are:

Visit the Evocalize website to learn more about the AI-driven platform.

Consider implementing Evocalize if you have a distributed marketing system with multiple locations that are difficult to manage.

Explore the potential of using Evocalize for hotel companies with multiple locations and data points.

Start by identifying the data points you can access and how they can impact your business.

Connect with us on Social

Connect with us here:

Jim Taylor: Benchmark 60

Adam Lamb: Chef Life Coaching

Sponsored by:

Turning the Table is a production of Realignment Hospitality

145: When is Enough, Enough?

Adam Lamb — Thu, 22 Jun 2023 04:00:00 -0500

When do you know it’s time to hang up the apron and throw in the towel on your hospitality career?

Join Jim Taylor and Adam Lamb on Thursday, June 22nd, 2023, at 12 N ET for another episode of Turning the Table, discussing winning mindsets for the restaurant industry’s new normal, and helping quantify what we mean by ’winning’.

144: Preventing Burnout in the Restaurant Industry

Adam Lamb — Thu, 15 Jun 2023 04:00:00 -0500

Join Jim Taylor of Benchmark Sixty and Adam Lamb of Chef Life Coaching on their #lunchboxlivestream as they "turn the tables" on the prevailing operating assumptions of running a restaurant in favor of innovative solutions to our industry’s most persistent challenges.

143: The Restaurant Gig Economy with Kassandra and Courtney Pike of FlipTable Plus

Realignment Media — Thu, 01 Jun 2023 06:00:00 -0500

Identical twin sisters Kassandra and Courtney Pike tackle the pain points of the restaurant industry with their all-in-one solution while highlighting the need for adaptivity and personal connection in attracting and retaining talent.

This episode is sponsored by: Evocalize

In this episode, you will be able to:

Tackle the difficulties of locating and keeping staff in the restaurant business.
Recognize the significance of tailoring the recruitment process to foster a sense of belonging among restaurant employees.
Leverage FlipTable Plus to streamline restaurant operations effectively.
Master the art of customizing hiring methods for modern job seekers.
Develop a robust team-based environment that's flexible to the changing demands.

Introducing Kassandra and Courtney Pike, the innovative minds behind FlipTable Plus.

As identical twins, they share a close bond and a deep passion for the restaurant industry. Their unique experience in the field led them to create FlipTable Plus, a platform that tackles the challenges of attracting and retaining modern job seekers.

Kassandra and Courtney are dedicated to helping restaurant operators find the right talent by offering a more predictable and interactive hiring process.

Their expertise in the industry and commitment to improving hiring practices make them excellent guests to discuss the latest strategies and solutions.

To find out more about Kassadra, Courtney, and Fliptable Plus:

Courtney on Linkedin

Kassandra on Linkedin

Flliptable on Linkedin

Fliptable on the Web.

Turning the Table is the most progressive podcast for today's food and beverage industry featuring staff-centric operating solutions for restaurants in the #newhospitalityculture.

Check out the #lunchboxlivestream LIVE on

In partnership with Realignment Media Podcast Network

Please note, show notes may contain affiliate links:

This Podcast is produced using Capsho; to get your show to sound this good, grab your 14-day free trial by clicking here.

Podpage makes our show look as good as it sounds; find out how easy a website builder can be and get 20% off your first month by clicking here.

The key moments in this episode are:

00:00:00 - Introduction,

00:01:19 - Challenges in Staffing,

00:05:17 - Problems to Solve,

00:09:38 - Culture in Restaurants,

00:13:36 - Gig Work Economy,

00:15:54 - Importance of Building a Personal Connection,

00:18:47 - Self-Agency and Reputation,

00:22:34 - Creative Solutions for Staffing Challenges,

00:25:23 - Building a Strong Community,

00:31:10 - The Challenges of Finding and Retaining Staff,

00:33:11 - Adapting to the Changing Times,

00:37:49 - Authenticity and Building a Strong Team,

00:45:57 - Wrapping Up and Key Takeaways,

00:01:06 - Introductions,

00:09:30 - The Importance of Real Food,

00:25:15 - The Role of Tradition,

00:39:20 - The Future of Nutrition,

00:50:10 - Final Thoughts,

142: Why Nothing Will Change Until You Do with Tucker Bascom

Realignment Media — Thu, 25 May 2023 06:00:00 -0500

Welcome to another episode of Turning the Table.

142: Why Nothing Will Change Until You Do with Tucker Bascom

What IF this is as good as it’s ever going to get for you career-wise?
Do you wonder why you can’t seem to attract the right talent for your operation?
Where do you go when you're ready to make a change?
Who do you trust?

Leadership Development Coach and Mentor Tucker Bascomb join Jim Taylor of Benchmark Sixty and Adam Lamb of Chef Life Coaching on our weekly #lunchboxlivestream to talk about the only thing that matters: our self-development & mastery.

This episode is sponsored by: Evocalize

To learn more about Tucker Bascom, check out:

Tucker on Linkedin

Tucker's Website, The Sustain Network

Tucker's 7Taps Micro Lessons for today's busy hospitality professional.

Sign the Hospitality Industry Mental Health Awareness Pledge, click here.

Turning the Table is the most progressive podcast for today's food and beverage industry featuring staff-centric operating solutions for restaurants in the #newhospitalityculture.

Check out the #lunchboxlivestream LIVE on

In partnership with Realignment Media Podcast Network

Please note, show notes may contain affiliate links:

This Podcast is produced using Capsho; to get your show to sound this good, grab your 14-day free trial by clicking here.

Podpage makes our show look as good as it sounds; find out how easy a website builder can be and get 20% off your first month by clicking here.

141: How the Digitization of Restaurants is Affecting the Industry, with Shawn Walchef

Adam Lamb — Fri, 19 May 2023 00:00:00 -0500

Shawn Walchef of Cali BBQ Media joins Jim Taylor and Adam Lamb in this episode to discuss the current state of the restaurant industry, how digital media is changing things, and how every operator should think about getting the word out.

For more info on Shawn, check out:

Shawn on Linkedin

Shawn on Podcast

CaliBBQ

Turning the Table is the most progressive podcast for today's food and beverage industry featuring staff-centric operating solutions for restaurants in the #newhospitalityculture.

Benchmark 60

Turning the Table is the most progressive podcast for today's food and beverage industry featuring staff-centric operating solutions for restaurants in the #newhospitalityculture.

Check out the #lunchboxlivestream LIVE, every Thursday at 12N ET @

In partnership with Realignment Media Podcast Network

Please note show notes may contain affiliate links:

This Podcast is produced using Capsho; to get your show to sound this good, grab your 14-day free trial by clicking here.

Podpage makes our show look as good as it sounds; find out how easy a website builder can be and get 20% off your first month by clicking here.

140: The Two Year Trend Forecast with Kelly Higginson

Realignment Media — Fri, 12 May 2023 00:00:00 -0500

Restaurants Canada COO Kelly Higginson joins Jim Taylor of Benchmark Sixty to talk about what the next few years look like, some exciting trends, and how smaller restaurant groups can remain competitive with larger ones.

This episode is sponsored by: Evocalize

Find out more about Restaurants Canada COO Kelly Higginson:

Kelly on Linkedin

Restaurants Canada

Turning the Table is the most progressive podcast for today's food and beverage industry featuring staff-centric operating solutions for restaurants in the #newhospitalityculture.

Check out the #lunchboxlivestream LIVE every Thursday at 12 N ET

Turning the Table is the most progressive podcast for today's food and beverage industry featuring staff-centric operating solutions for restaurants in the #newhospitalityculture.

Check out the live #lunchboxlivestream every Thursday at 12N ET @

In partnership with Realignment Media Podcast Network

Please note show notes may contain affiliate links:

This Podcast is produced using Capsho; to get your show to sound this good, grab your 14-day free trial by clicking here.

Podpage makes our show look as good as it sounds; find out how easy a website builder can be and get 20% off your first month by clicking here.

139: Zach Feinstein on Commission Based Hospitality Pay Model

Realignment Media — Fri, 05 May 2023 06:00:00 -0500

139: Zach Feinstein on Commission Based Hospitality Pay Model

Zach Feinstein of the Feinstein Group of New American Tampa-based restaurant concepts on their commission-based Hospitality Pay Model with Jim Taylor of Benchmark Sixty

To learn more about Zach:

Zach on Linkedin

Turning the Table is the most progressive podcast for today's food and beverage industry featuring staff-centric operating solutions for restaurants in the #newhospitalityculture.

Check out the videocast on

Turning the Table is the most progressive podcast for today's food and beverage industry featuring staff-centric operating solutions for restaurants in the #newhospitalityculture.

Check out the #lunchboxlivestream LIVE on

In partnership with Realignment Media Podcast Network

Please note show notes may contain affiliate links:

This Podcast is produced using Capsho; to get your show to sound this good, grab your 14-day free trial by clicking here.

Podpage makes our show look as good as it sounds; find out how easy a website builder can be and get 20% off your first month by clicking here.

138: Outside the Box for New Restaurant Business Models with Kirk Spinks

Realignment Media — Fri, 28 Apr 2023 00:05:00 -0500

Kirk Spinks, COO of El Furniture Warehouse, joins Jim Taylor to discuss how Kirk and his team have created a growing brand based on doing things differently.

The Warehouse Group on the Web

To learn more about Kirk & E;l Furniture Warehouse, check this:

Kirk on Linkedin

Turning the Table is the most progressive podcast for today's food and beverage industry featuring staff-centric operating solutions for restaurants in the #newhospitalityculture.

Check out the live #lunchboxlivestream every Thursday at 12N ET @

This episode is sponsored by: Evocalize

137: Why Workplace Culture Should Always Outpace Growth

Realignment Media — Fri, 28 Apr 2023 00:00:00 -0500

Chris Williams, the Director of Training and Culture for Walk On Sports, joins Jim Taylor of Benchmark Sixty to help us quantify what a 'winning mindset' feels like and how we can engage our staff in meaningful ways to keep them engaged and productive.

And what the hell do we mean by 'winning mindset' anyway?

This episode is sponsored by: Evocalize

To find out more about Chris. Click any link below:

WalkOn Sports

Chris on Linkedin

Turning the Table is the most progressive podcast for today's food and beverage industry featuring staff-centric operating solutions for restaurants in the #newhospitalityculture.

Check out the #lunchboxlivestream LIVE every Thursday at 12N ET :

Check out the #lunchboxlivestream LIVE on

In partnership with Realignment Media Podcast Network

Please note show notes may contain affiliate links:

This Podcast is produced using Capsho; to get your show to sound this good, grab your 14-day free trial by clicking here.

Podpage makes our show look as good as it sounds; find out how easy a website builder can be and get 20% off your first month by clicking here.

136: Innovation in Labor Models with Anthony Valletta

Realignment Media — Thu, 13 Apr 2023 00:05:00 -0500

Anthony Valletta of BarTaco joins us in the studio to talk about the next-gen labor models he and his team at BatTaco use to dominate their markets and spur system-wide growth for their concept.

To find out more about Anthony and BarTaco, check out:

Anthony on Linkedin

BarTaco on the Web

Turning the Table is the most progressive podcast for today's food and beverage industry featuring staff-centric operating solutions for restaurants in the #newhospitalityculture.

Check out the videocast on

in partnership with Realignment Hospitality

135: The Promise and Pitfalls of Generative AI for Food and Beverage Operations

Realignment Media — Fri, 07 Apr 2023 00:05:00 -0500

There’s a lot of buzz around AI regarding local marketing in the industry.

Without appropriate guardrails from corporate or the parent organization, Generative AI can make recommendations that seem great for franchisees but can break brand guidelines, rules, or even laws.

Given this new ability to drastically increase productivity with AI, the average user lacks sufficient data on their own to mitigate risk sufficiently.

How much do you let the system take action on behalf of franchisees and remove the need for user intervention? To what level should you empower franchisees or enhance tools they interact with directly?

Join Nick Markman - Senior Product Manager at Evocalize, as he explores the spectrum of what to fully automate, what to automate with supervision, and what to allow users the freedom to automate with Generative AI.

Find Out More about Nick & Evocalize:

Nick on Linkedin

Dream Builder Newsletter

Turning the Table is the most progressive podcast for today's food and beverage industry featuring staff-centric operating solutions for restaurants in the #newhospitalityculture.

Check out the videocast on

in partnership with Realignment Hospitality

134: Mastering Hospitality Workplace Communication

Realignment Media — Thu, 23 Mar 2023 00:05:00 -0500

Does it feel like it’s harder than ever to communicate effectively with your staff members?
Have you adjusted your delivery style to be better understood by associates?
What’s the politically correct way now to speak with staff?

If you struggle with workplace communication, you’ll want to catch our episode with Executive Coach and Team Leadership trainer Kelly Featheringham when she joins Jim Taylor of Benchmark Sixty and Adam Lamb of Chef Life Coaching when we discuss mastering hospitality workplace communication.

To learn more about Kelly and her Executive Coaching Practice, then check out:

Kelly on Linkedin

Book a Call with Kelly

Turning the Table is the most progressive podcast for today's food and beverage industry featuring staff-centric operating solutions for restaurants in the #newhospitalityculture.

Check out the videocast on

in partnership with Realignment Hospitality

133: How to Create Value for Your Restaurant Guest

Realignment Media — Thu, 16 Mar 2023 00:05:00 -0500

Are you struggling with the rising cost of food these days?
Is your food cost taking a hit with the crazy supply chain issues?
How many more times can you raise prices without losing customers?

If you’re nodding your head yes, then manoman do we have a show for you!

Kyle Inserra, recovering restauranteur, host of The National Restaurant Owners Podcast, and now The Restaurant Idea Factory, joins Jim Taylor and Adam Lamb in the studio to talk about ways that restaurant owners can positively affect their customer’s experience without raising prices while at the same time increasing their profitability without sacrificing their staff’s value proposition.

We’ll answer all your questions while turning the tables on the conventional wisdom of operating a restaurant in the #newhospitlaityculture.

To learn more about Kyle Inserra and how he can serve your operation, then check out:

Kyle Inserra on Linkedin

National Restaurant Owners Podcast

The Restaurant Idea Factory

Turning the Table is the most progressive podcast for today's food and beverage industry featuring staff-centric operating solutions for restaurants in the #newhospitalityculture.

Check out the videocast on

Monte Silva on Linkedin

Benchmark 60

Realignment Hospitality

in partnership with Realignment Hospitality

132: Shift Happens with Monte Silva

Realignment Media — Thu, 09 Mar 2023 00:05:00 -0500

Is the new ’normal’ for restaurant operations got you confused?

Do you reminisce about how the restaurant business used to be?

What restaurant operation myths do you still cling to?

If any of this grabbed your attention, you wouldn’t want to miss this special episode with Executive Coach and speaker Monte Silva.

He’s joining Jim and Adam in the studio to debunk seven false operational beliefs and replace them with seven strategies to help your restaurant crush the new norm.

To find out more about Monte Silva, his upcoming book "Shift Happens" and his consulting services, check out:

Monte Silva Consulting

Three Oaks Consulting

Turning the Table is the most progressive podcast for today's food and beverage industry featuring staff-centric operating solutions for restaurants in the #newhospitalityculture.

Check out the videocast on

in partnership with Realignment Hospitality

131: How to Inspire, Connect & Manage Your Staff with Empathy

Realignment Media — Thu, 02 Mar 2023 00:00:00 -0500

Do you have trouble connecting fully with your staff?

Does it feel like nothing you do inspires your crew?

Are you struggling to find ways to motivate your staff?

If so, then this is the show for you!

Edwyn Kumar and Chris McFadden of Ultra Team Development join Jim Taylor of Benchmark Sixty and Adam Lamb of Chef Life Coaching in the studio to talk about Restaurant Leadership 101, a training program for chefs and front-of-house managers.

If you’ve ever suffered from "imposter syndrome" and didn’t know where to build your leadership street cred, you’ll want to join this special live stream event.

Find out more about Edwyn, Christopher, and Restaurant Leadership 101:

Gary V

Turning the Table is the most progressive podcast for today's food and beverage industry featuring staff-centric operating solutions for restaurants in the #newhospitalityculture.

Check out the videocast on

in partnership with Realignment Hospitality

130: Restaurant Operations Trending Topics Revealed

Realignment Media — Sat, 25 Feb 2023 06:00:00 -0500

What's your biggest operational challenge?

Show Notes:

1. US 3% Unemployment

2. Shout out to Michelle Moreno!

3. A Taco a day for a month for a $10 subscription service

4. Wages are still a hot topic

Get three MORE ideas you can test in your operation this weekend; click for exclusive bonus content.

Support for The Hospitality Industry:

Chowco.org: https://chowco.org/

I Got Your Back: https://igotyourback.info/

The Burnt Chef Project: https://www.theburntchefproject.com/h...

Chef Life Coaching:https://my.captivate.fm/cheflifecoach...

The conversation is never over, and we reply to everyone; we can't do it without you.

If you enjoy this video, please like and share this video.

Turning the Table is the most progressive podcast for today's food and beverage industry featuring staff-centric operating solutions for restaurants in the #newhospitalityculture.

Check out the videocast on

Learn More About Brittnay

Benchmark Sixty sponsor this show; check out their unique staff retention solution

in partnership with Realignment Hospitality

129: How to Uplevel Your Culture with Emotional Intelligence

Realignment Media — Fri, 17 Feb 2023 06:00:00 -0500

129: How to Uplevel Your Culture with Emotional Intelligence

The Queen of Culture, Brittinay Lenhart, joins Jim Taylor of Benchmark Sixty and Adam Lamb of Chef Life Coaching to talk about the cultural transformation occurring in the Hospitality market and why you should be ahead of the curve instead of behind it.

Turning the Table is the most progressive podcast for today's food and beverage industry featuring staff-centric operating solutions for restaurants in the #newhospitalityculture.

Check out the videocast on

Discover the three biggest ideas for staff training by grabbing this episode's BONUS CONTENT, By Clicking Here!

in partnership with Realignment Hospitality

127: Ricardo Monzon- Hiring Smart and Training Smarter

Realignment Media — Thu, 02 Feb 2023 00:00:00 -0500

Are you struggling to attract the right staff?

Sick and tired of getting ghosted on interviews?

Does it seem that you're new hires aren't skilled enough?

How can you properly train your staff when you're chronically understaffed?

Ricardo schooled us on his top three tips for hiring smart and training smarter.

Show Notes:

How to Hire and Train Smarter

1. Train the staff you have on where they want to be next: happy staff tell all their friends

2. Create an Organizational Structure that supports staff growth

3. Own Your Narrative and communicate it incessantly

How to Connect with Ricardo:

Www.Somos-Vida.com

ricardo@somos-vida.com

Ricardo on Linkedin

TikTok - @ricardoemonzon

FB - Ricardo Monzon

I.G. - @ric612 @somos_vida_hospitality

Support for The Hospitality Industry:

Turning the Table is the most progressive podcast for today's food and beverage industry featuring staff-centric operating solutions for restaurants in the #newhospitalityculture.

Check out the weekly videocast on

Benchmark Sixty sponsors this show; check out their unique staff retention solution.

In Partnership with Chef Life Coaching

Find out the three biggest ideas for staff training by grabbing this episode's BONUS CONTENT

Turning the Table is a production of Realignment Media.

126: Why Culture is Everything

Realignment Media — Thu, 26 Jan 2023 00:00:00 -0500

Jim Taylor of Benchmark Sixty and Adam Lamb of Chef Life Coaching talk about the cultural transformation occurring in the Hospitality market and why you should be ahead of the curve instead of behind it.

You'll learn three steps to create your own transformation to the #newhospitalityculture.

Show Notes:

Creating a Powerful Workplace Culture

1. Communication

2. Emotional Intelligence

3. Culture or Integrity

By Clicking Here!

Support for The Hospitality Industry:

Turning the Table is the most progressive podcast for today's food and beverage industry featuring staff-centric operating solutions for restaurants in the #newhospitalityculture.

Check out the weekly videocast on

Lauren Fernandez on Linkedin

Benchmark Sixty sponsors this show; check out their unique staff retention solution.

In Partnership with Chef Life Coaching

Turning the Table is a production of Realignment Media.

125: Lauren Hernandez | The Hospitality Training Gap

Realignment Media — Thu, 19 Jan 2023 00:00:00 -0500

Full Course Fund CEO, Lauren Hernandez joins Jim Taylor of Benchmark Sixty and Adam Lamb of Chef Life Coaching to discuss the growing disparity of effective hospitality training and the expectations placed on new staff members without the requisite skill sets, and how COVID only made things worse.

Show Notes:

Thoughts: the restaurant industry has an education problem. Most restaurant training is on the job, which presents several challenges:

1. Lack of budget

2. Even less time

3. Highly subjective: No QC/standardization

4. Doesn’t accommodate different learning styles

5. Education as a path to creating the next gen of restaurant leadership & promoting & developing from within

The Three Things That You Can Do Right Now To Close The Hospitality Training Gap:

1.) Invest in a culture of training and coaching.

2.) Provide Leadership Training For Leads AND Potential Leads

3.) Create a Maintain a Succession Plan

To learn more about Lauren and Full Course:

Full Course Programs & Courses

The NRN Top Fifty of 2022

Find out the three biggest ideas for staff training by grabbing this episode's BONUS CONTENT

By Clicking Here!

Support for The Hospitality Industry:

Turning the Table is the most progressive podcast for today's food and beverage industry featuring staff-centric operating solutions for restaurants in the #newhospitalityculture.

Check out the weekly videocast on

Benchmark Sixty sponsors this show; check out their unique staff retention solution.

In Partnership with Chef Life Coaching

Turning the Table is a production of Realignment Media.

124: Aaron Fish | Three Things You NEED To Know About Senior Living Hospitality

Realignment Media — Thu, 12 Jan 2023 00:00:00 -0500

Consultant Aaron Fish joins Jim Taylor of Benchmark Sixty and Adam Lamb of Chef Life Coaching to talk about hospitality in the senior living market segment.

Join us at 12 N ET, Thursday, Jan. 12th. to find out the 3 Things that Senior Living Restaurant Operations do better than any other market segment, and that you too can use to make the most of your operational success.

123: The Successful Hospitality Mindset for 2023

Realignment Media — Thu, 05 Jan 2023 00:00:00 -0500

Turning the Table ep. 123

Chowco.org Check In
Clearing the decks for 2023
How Many F*cks Do You Have to Give in a Day
What exactly is a mindset?
Fixed versus Growth Mindsets
Why is 2023 any different than 2022?
Can't we use the same mindset we had last year?
Mindset Belief #1 - Own Your Circumstance.
Things will never go back to what they were; the quicker you can let that go, the sooner you can start moving forward.
Mindset Belief #2 – Connect to and live your values.
Align yourself with people, places, and organizations that share those values.
Mindset Belief #3 – Embrace the unknown with Neutrality
Be less certain and hold it all loosely.
Essential Mental Attributes: Curiosity, Creativity, and Collaboration as a way of being.

Support for The Hospitality Industry:

Join the only free online community dedicated to chefs who want to enjoy their careers without sacrificing their lives, The Chef Life Brigade.

Turning the Table is the most progressive podcast for today's food and beverage industry featuring staff-centric operating solutions for restaurants in the #newhospitalityculture.

Check out the weekly videocast on

Free Download: Make Time Your Superpower

Benchmark Sixty sponsors this show; check out their unique staff retention solution.

In Partnership with Chef Life Coaching

Turning the Table is a production of Realignment Media.

122: Our Top Three Favorite Podcast Episodes of the Year

Realignment Media — Thu, 29 Dec 2022 00:00:00 -0500

Jim Taylor and Adam Lamb discuss their favorite three episodes of the year, why they made our list, what we’re celebrating about the restaurant industry in 2022 and what we’re looking forward to in 2023.

Join us on Thursday, December 29th for the special year-end wrap-up episode at 12 N ET.

121: Scot Turner - The Top Five Lessons From a Life Lived in Hospitality

Realignment Media — Thu, 22 Dec 2022 00:00:00 -0500

Scot Turner from Auden Hospitality in the UK joins Jim Taylor and Adam Lamb in the studio to talk about his long career in the Hospitality industry and the five biggest lessons he took away from his successes, and failures.

Join us on Thursday, December 22 to listen to this lively discussion and learn what you should, and shouldn’t do for a successful career and life.

120: Kelly Featheringham on The ABC’s of Inspirational Leadership

Realignment Media — Thu, 15 Dec 2022 00:00:00 -0500

Author and Executive Leadership Coach Kelly Heateringham joins Jim Taylor and Adam Lamb in the studio for part 2 of The ABC’s of Inspirational Leadership: Boundaries. What are they and why are hospitality professionals so bad at creating healthy ones?

Join us Thursday, December 15th at 12 N ET to learn three ways you can start embracing healthy boundaries, even if one of them is saying, "No." from time to time.

119: Forecast? We Don’t Need No Stinkin Forecast

Realignment Media — Thu, 08 Dec 2022 00:00:00 -0500

Jim Taylor and Adam Lamb discuss protecting staff workload by embracing and mastering forecasting in restaurant operations.

118: Michelle Moreno Transforming Hospitality Leadership

Realignment Media — Thu, 01 Dec 2022 00:00:00 -0500

Leadership Coach Michelle Moreno joins Jim Taylor of Benchmark Sixty and Adam Lamb of Chef Life Coaching to discuss the current state of hospitality leadership and three things you can do right now to uplevel your management style.

To learn more about Michelle and her work:

The Ethos The Ten Principles of Embodied Leadership

https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-moreno-1b843620/

https://qableadership.com/

https://qableadership.com/the-10-principles-of-embodied-leadership/

Support for The Hospitality Industry:

Grab your copy of the Porch Poem

Books We Recommend:

Radical Candor

The Three Takeaways to Uplevel your leadership skillset

1.) Embrace Small Talk

2.) Embrace Gracious Feedback

3.) Understand where you are on the three levels of leadership development

Connect and collaborate with peers; find a mentor.

Join the only free online community dedicated to chefs who want to enjoy their careers without sacrificing their lives, The Chef Life Brigade.

Turning the Table is the most progressive podcast for today's food and beverage industry featuring staff-centric operating solutions for restaurants in the #newhospitalityculture.

Check out the weekly videocast on

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CkeK3TwMcV9/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Benchmark Sixty sponsors this show; check out their unique staff retention solution.

In Partnership with Chef Life Coaching

Turning the Table is a production of Realignment Media.

117: What Are You Grateful for Today?

Realignment Media — Thu, 24 Nov 2022 00:00:00 -0500

Jim Taylor of Benchmark Sixty and Adam Lamb of Chef Life Coaching get together to thank those working on this holiday, so others won’t have to.

The Values Videos

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CkMLo0wg-Pl/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Support for The Hospitality Industry:

Grab your copy of the Porch Poem

Books Talked About in this Episode:

Radical Candor

The Peter Principle

Join the only free online community dedicated to chefs who want to enjoy their careers without sacrificing their lives, The Chef Life Brigade.

Turning the Table is the most progressive podcast for today's food and beverage industry featuring staff-centric operating solutions for restaurants in the #newhospitalityculture.

Check out the weekly videocast on

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jensen-cummings-09b9894b/

Benchmark Sixty sponsors this show; check out their unique staff retention solution.

In Partnership with Chef Life Coaching

Turning the Table is a production of Realignment Media.

116: What Do You Stand For and How Would Anyone Know?

Realignment Media — Thu, 17 Nov 2022 00:00:00 -0500

In this episode, we welcome our good friend, Chef, Advocate & Antagonist in the Hospitality Industry, Jensen Cummings.

He speaks to Jim and me about several posts he created lately that caught our attention because he was using a trigger word that always gets us lit up: VALUES.

We talk about three things you can do right now to clarify your core values, how to leverage them to find your perfect place of employment, and supercharge your career growth.

About Chef Jensen Cummings

https://www.facebook.com/BestServedPodcast

https://www.facebook.com/groups/231221154823850

https://www.bestservedcreative.com/?r_done=1

https://www.bestservedpodcast.com/

The Values Videos

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CkeK3TwMcV9/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CkMLo0wg-Pl/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Support for The Hospitality Industry:

I Got Your Back

The Burnt Chef Project

Chef Life Coaching

Grab your copy of the Porch Poem

Books Talked About in this Episode:

Radical Candor

The Peter Principle

Join the only free online community dedicated to chefs who want to enjoy their careers without sacrificing their lives, The Chef Life Brigade.

Turning the Table is the most progressive podcast for today's food and beverage industry featuring staff-centric operating solutions for restaurants in the #newhospitalityculture.

Check out the weekly videocast on

Benchmark Sixty sponsors this show; check out their unique staff retention solution.

In Partnership with Chef Life Coaching

Turning the Table is a production of Realignment Media.

115: How to Put a Team Back Together After Bad Management

Realignment Media — Thu, 10 Nov 2022 00:00:00 -0500

Turning the Table Ep. 115: Jim Taylor and Adam Lamb respond to a listener's questions about a situation we've all had to deal with at one point in our career:

"How to put her team back together after a period of mismanagement?"

Learn how you can bounce back from bad leadership practices.

Listener email: "I came across your podcast this morning while looking for some hope in the hospitality industry. I love the hospitality industry so much!

I have been in just about every position in the restaurant business.

Your most recent podcasts really made me feel vindicated after coming home from a job I have only been at for a month as the Assistant F&B director for a hotel and feeling defeated(something that I don’t feel very often).

I stepped into a situation where the previous manager had treated the team so poorly that everyone was ready to quit.

I was beginning to think that maybe my expectations were too high I don’t mean of the staff I mean expectations for upper management to care a little about the employees and about training staff to succeed at their jobs.

I just really wanted to thank you guys for doing a podcast that speaks so openly about the restaurant industry's mental health issues, the retention of good employees, and the importance of good management.

Wishing you all the best."

Turning the Table is the most progressive podcast for today's food and beverage industry featuring staff-centric operating solutions for restaurants in the #newhospitalityculture.

Check out the weekly videocast on

Benchmark Sixty sponsors this show; check out their unique staff retention solution.

In Partnership with Chef Life Coaching

Turning the Table is a production of Realignment Media.

114: Why working in a restaurant can be hazardous to your mental health.

Realignment Media — Thu, 03 Nov 2022 00:00:00 -0500

What are the inherent risks of working in an environment where instant gratification is so prevalent, and what happens when the music ends?

Many people think working in a restaurant is a great way to rack up some experience and make money.

But working in a restaurant can also be challenging when it comes to taking care of your health.

Culinary Coach Simon Zatyrka joins Jim Taylor of Benchmark Sixty and Adam Lamb of Chef Life Coaching to answer the question, "How can we, as leaders, understand this unrecognized drive in some staff members, and what can be done to assist them in becoming mature professionals?"

Links Mentioned in the show:

To Connect with Chef Simon, click here

To find out more about Peopleful, click here.

To better understand the health and wellness trends in the industry, click here.

Turning the Table is the most progressive podcast for today's food and beverage industry featuring staff-centric operating solutions for restaurants in the #newhospitalityculture.

Check out the weekly videocast on

Benchmark Sixty sponsors this show; check out their unique staff retention solution.

In Partnership with Chef Life Coaching

Turning the Table is a production of Realignment Media.

113: What to do when seasonal slumps catch your restaurant team by surprise

Realignment Media — Fri, 28 Oct 2022 00:00:00 -0500

Jim Taylor of Benchmark Sixty and Adam Lamb of Chef Life Coaching discuss restaurant budgets and how to avoid the seasonal slump blues.

Restaurant budgets can be tricky to manage during the year, especially when there is a dip in business.

In this episode, we'll discuss some tips on how to avoid the restaurant's seasonal slump blues and keep your restaurant afloat during tough times. building highly effective restaurant teams and balancing the equation of motivation versus inspiration.

Turning the Table is the most progressive podcast for today's food and beverage industry featuring staff-centric operating solutions for restaurants in the #newhospitalityculture.

Check out the videocast on

Benchmark Sixty sponsors this show; check out their unique staff retention solution

in partnership with Realignment Hospitality

In Partnership with Chef Life Coaching

Turning the Table is a production of Realignment Media.

112: Chef Maria Campbell | A Community Cookbook As a Vessel For Transformation

Realignment Media — Thu, 20 Oct 2022 00:00:00 -0500

Chef Maria Campbell shares her vision for the restaurant culture in her native Philadephia and how it can be a transformative force in our lives.

As a chef, she's extremely conscious of the importance of providing sustenance, joy, and empowerment to her community of hospitality professionals.

In this interview, she discusses a new project in collaboration with Cooks Who Care: a community-created cookbook aptly named "Entertaining for Mental Health", whose proceeds will establish the very first CWC Hospitality Fund.

We discuss topics such as the book's genesis and how it developed, her tips for creating a healthy work environment, her views on food, and being in contribution are tools for personal growth and self-nurture.

Turning the Table is the most progressive podcast for today's food and beverage industry featuring staff-centric operating solutions for restaurants in the #newhospitalityculture.

Check out the videocast on

Benchmark Sixty sponsors this show; check out their unique staff retention solution

in partnership with Realignment Hospitality

To Contribute to the Fund, click here.

To Connect with Chef Maria, email her by clicking here

To Learn More about Cooks Who Care, click here.

Turning the Table is the most progressive podcast for today's food and beverage industry featuring staff-centric operating solutions for restaurants in the #newhospitalityculture.

Check out the videocast on

Maximizing Team Performance by Mastering Your ABCs

Benchmark Sixty sponsors this show; check out their unique staff retention solution.

In Partnership with Chef Life Coaching

Turning the Table is a production of Realignment Media.

111: Kelly Featheringham | How to Lead Highly Effective Teams

Realignment Media — Tue, 11 Oct 2022 06:00:00 -0500

Part two of our continuing series about leadership best practices for high-performance restaurant teams: "We Before Me."

Executive Leadership Coach & Mentor, Kelly Featheringham AAC, joins Jim Taylor of Benchmark Sixty and Adam Lamb of Chef Life Coaching to discuss the ABCs of attracting, cultivating, and inspiring team members for maximum organizational impact.

In this episode:

Assumptions
Boundaries
Communication
Adaptive Oversight
Powers of Observation
Secrets to Delegation
Building Relationships
Consistency Brings Competence

Links Discussed During the Show

Executive Coaching | Kelly Featheringham

Join Kelly on Linkedin.

Book a Breakthrough Call by clicking here.

Turning the Table is the most progressive podcast for today's food and beverage industry featuring staff-centric operating solutions for restaurants in the #newhospitalityculture.

Check out the videocast on

Benchmark Sixty sponsors this show; check out their unique staff retention solution

in partnership with Realignment Hospitality

110: Building Highly Effective Hospitality Teams

Realignment Media — Thu, 06 Oct 2022 00:00:00 -0500

Corporate Chef Ryan Dodge and Restauranteur Doug Newhook join Jim Taylor of Benchmark Sixty and Adam Lamb of Realignment Hospitality to discuss building highly effective restaurant teams and balancing the equation of motivation versus inspiration.

Connect with Doug or Chef Ryan by clicking this link

Turning the Table Is the most progressive weekly podcast for today's food and beverage industry, featuring staff-centric operating solutions for restaurants in the #newhospitalityculture.

Join Jim Taylor of Benchmark Sixty and Adam Lamb as they "turn the tables" on the prevailing operating assumptions of running a restaurant in favor of innovative solutions to our industry's most persistent challenges.

Check out the videocast every Thursday at 12N ET

Benchmark Sixty sponsors this show; check out their unique staff retention solution

In partnership with Realignment Hospitality

109: Jay Ashton, Founder of The Staff Chair Project: | Restaurant Staff Mental Health Wellness

Realignment Media — Sun, 02 Oct 2022 05:00:00 -0500

109: Jay Ashton, the producer and host of the SVK Podcast Network, speaks to Jim Taylor and Adam Lamb about his unique initiative, The Staff Chair, in collaboration with The Brick furniture store to refit restaurant staffrooms into '"wellness rooms."

SVK Podcast

Jay Ashton on Linkedin

The Staff Chair

The Brick

Turning the Table Is the most progressive weekly podcast for today's food and beverage industry, featuring staff-centric operating solutions for restaurants in the #newhospitalityculture.

Check out the videocast on

This show is sponsored by Benchmark Sixty; check out their unique staff retention solution

In partnership with Realignment Hospitality

Turning the Table, Episode109: Jay Ashton, producer and host of Sysco's SVK Podcast network, restaurant staff wellness, converting staff break rooms into wellness rooms, restaurant industry transformation, adam m lamb, restaurant business embracing changes, Jim Taylor, benchmark sixty, less talk - more action, The Brick furniture store, walking in nature, hospitality mental health wellness, hospitality industry, mental health wellness.

108: Staffing Specialist Chris Bousquet | 3 Steps to Hiring Better Quality Restaurant Employees.

Realignment Media — Thu, 22 Sep 2022 00:00:00 -0500

Hospitality Recruiter and Career Coach Chris Bousquet joins Jim Taylor of Benchmark Sixty and Adam Lamb of Realignment Hospitality to talk about 3 Steps to Hiring Better Quality Restaurant Employees.

Highlights:

1.) Keep your resume simple.

2.) Understand what the ATS does and doesn't do.

3.) Be clear about your values and what your prospective employer values.

To learn more about Chris's work, click here.

Turning the Table Is the most progressive weekly podcast for today's food and beverage industry, featuring staff-centric operating solutions for restaurants in the #newhospitalityculture.

Check out the videocast on

The Burnt Chef Project

This show is sponsored by Benchmark Sixty; check out their unique staff retention solution

In partnership with Realignment Hospitality

108: Recruiter Chris Bousquet, how to start a restaurant, restaurant consulting, restaurant management, restaurant business plan, restaurant owner, restaurant marketing, food cost calculator, how to run a restaurant, restaurant menu design, food cost, food cost percentage, food cost formula, commercial kitchen design, restaurant employee handbook, business plan for a bar, 3 Steps to Hiring Better Quality Restaurant Employees

107: The Hospitality Industry & The Current State of Its Mental Health

Realignment Media — Thu, 15 Sep 2022 00:00:00 -0500

In this episode, Jim and I talk about the current state of the industry's mental health and how operators can ensure their staff are physically and emotionally safe for better retention.

Remember: It’s okay not to be okay.

If you're struggling right now, don't wait another minute, text

'HOME to 741741 in the US and Canada

'Hi' on Whatsapp to +00 353 87 369 0010 in Ireland

'5626' or https://thelowdown.co.nz/ (NZ) in New Zealand

'13 11 14' or https://au.reachout.com/urgent-help IAUS

Links Mentioned in the Show:

Not9to5

I’ve Got Your Back

Chef Life Radio

Benchmark Sixty

106: Scot Turner | Embracing Change

Realignment Media — Thu, 08 Sep 2022 00:00:00 -0500

Scot Turner of Auden Hospitality joins Jim Taylor and me, Adam Lamb, on this episode of Turning the Table.

We talk about ways in which restaurant operators can fully embrace the cultural change and staffing challenges happening in the hospitality industry and be out front of the wave.

Scot talked about:

1.) Take 5 minutes to get out of the hustle and grind, and come back to your operation curious about what's working and the possibilities.

2.) Forecast & Manage your staff workloads (Benchmark Sixty can help you with that!)

3.) Engage your staff - ask them what they need and what they want.

4.) The article we referenced from Fast Company: How to move from managing to leading

5.) Consider what you risk by NOT embracing this change.

To find out more about Scot Turner and Auden Hospitality, connect with him via LinkedIn

OR Check Out Auden Hospitality by clicking here.

Turning the Table Is the most progressive weekly podcast for today's food and beverage industry, featuring staff-centric operating solutions for restaurants in the #newhospitalityculture.

Check out the videocast on

This show is sponsored by Benchmark Sixty; check out their unique staff retention solution

In partnership with Realignment Hospitality

105: Alison Anne | Hospitality Leadership Coach on Mission Critical Skills

Realignment Media — Thu, 01 Sep 2022 00:00:00 -0500

Alison Anne of Restaurant Revolution, a hospitality transformational leadership coach and mentor, joins Jim Taylor of Benchmark Sixty Restaurant Services and Adam Lamb to talk about what she and her company are doing to address the leadership gap in most traditional restaurant operations.

You can find out more about Alsion Anne by clicking Restaurant Revolution

"Coaches Lead, Leaders Coach'
Jim's training path with Cactus Cafe
"Feed - Foreward" and being willing to receive feedback.
Alison's Step Zero is "Letting go of the habit of attitude to become a better leader."
Getting over the fear of being fired to step into inner leadership.
Just Notice.
" I try to enter into each relationship with the mindset of the person I want to be in 3, 5 10 years. How would they react to this situation."
"No time to train? Way too busy? I get it, BUT
The reality is that nothing will change until we change it."
Our cultures are directly affected by how we use our time.
All it takes is 5 minutes a day and a willingness to interrupt the story that you've been telling yourself.

Turning the Table Is the most progressive weekly podcast for today's food and beverage industry, featuring staff-centric operating solutions for restaurants in the #newhospitalityculture.

Check out the videocast on

This show is sponsored by Benchmark Sixty; check out their unique staff retention solution.

In partnership with Realignment Hospitality

104: Jonathan Ruby | Shifting Toxic Hospitality Culture

Realignment Media — Thu, 25 Aug 2022 00:00:00 -0500

Restaurant Coach/Consultant and former Chef Jonathan Ruby 'turns the table' on the toxic culinary culture in our food and beverage profession and how you, too, can create a workplace #culture that everyone wants to work for.

We debunk the veneration of self-sacrifice in today's restaurant culture and reveal how taking care of yourself is job #1 in the #newrstaurantculture.

To find out more about Jonathan Ruby and his mission, click here.

Turning the Table Is the most progressive weekly podcast for today's food and beverage industry, featuring staff-centric operating solutions for restaurants in the #newhospitalityculture.

Check out the videocast on

This show is sponsored by Benchmark Sixty; check out their unique staff retention solution.

In partnership with Realignment Hospitality

103: Will the Hustle Culture be the Death of the Hospitality Industry?

Realignment Media — Fri, 19 Aug 2022 00:00:00 -0500

Jim Taylor of Benchmark Sixty and Adam Lamb discuss the #hustleculture of our industry, and while it might have made most food and beverage operations more efficient, it may have come at the cost of staff safety and retention.

Turning the Table Is the most progressive weekly podcast for today's food and beverage industry, featuring staff-centric operating solutions for restaurants in the #newhospitalityculture.

Check out the videocast on

This show is sponsored by Benchmark Sixty; check out their unique staff retention solution.

In partnership with Realignment Hospitality

102: Restaurant Staff Productivity VS Efficiency, What's the Difference?

Realignment Media — Thu, 18 Aug 2022 00:00:00 -0500

Jim Taylor of Benchmark Sixty and Adam Lamb discuss the question of staff productivity or efficiency, what's the difference, and which one serves the restaurant industry best in the long run.

Turning the Table Is the most progressive weekly podcast for today's food and beverage industry, featuring staff-centric operating solutions for restaurants in the #newhospitalityculture.

Check out the videocast on

This show is sponsored by Benchmark Sixty; check out their unique staff retention solution.

In partnership with Realignment Hospitality

101: Turning the Table On Restaurant Dogma

Realignment Media — Thu, 18 Aug 2022 00:00:00 -0500

Jim Taylor of Benchmark Sixty and Adam Lamb discuss the prevailing operating assumptions of running a restaurant in favor of innovative solutions to our industry's most persistent challenges.

Turning the Table Is the most progressive weekly podcast for today's food and beverage industry, featuring staff-centric operating solutions for restaurants in the #newhospitalityculture.

Check out the videocast on