My Recipe for Success - January 2021
Dorothy Radermacher, CDM, CFPP
Dorothy has over 35 years of experience in healthcare foodservice, working with all age groups from neonatal in acute care to long-term care to hospice. She has a strong interest in mentoring and helping others develop leadership skills, which she continues to do in retirement.
Dorothy's Recipe for Success
- Consistency & Fairness is the name of the game.
- Don't sweat the small stuff... Life, death, and following your dreams and goals are key. Stay on track, don't let others distract you.
- When you have a plate full and think things can't possibly get worse, they usually will. So, change that negative thinking to positive and remind yourself you got this!
- Be realistic. Don't over schedule and set yourself up for failure.
- When a door closes, a window will open. Generally, that window will put you in a better place. Explore the possibilities and look for the best opportunity.
- In conflict - always listen to both sides with an open mind. Then, think through your decision, but don't forget to follow up with both parties. Any time you can bring both parties to the table at the same time, so they see you are doing this, you gain respect and they may develop a respect or a working relationship with each other.
- Celebrate success when you have a major change that the Team has accomplished. Provide information that you have and can share. They will see you as transparent, & caring.
- Allow planning and end-of-day follow-up time. Plan your day & your week.
- With staff, find that personal connection, something you have in common, something going on in their life. Greet them when you see them for the first time daily. Ask them how their day is going. Show them you care! It's not all about you.
- Making others look good, makes you look good.
- When working with management, always clarify that what you heard was their intent. Nothing is more embarrassing than when you are not doing what was asked of you. It also gets them to think about what they said and confirm that it was their intent. Listening is a big part of communication. Be an active listener.
- Take time to learn how to work with the different personalities.
- It's not the amount of work that you got done. It's the difference you made at the end of the day for a client, coworker, or family,
Nominate Yourself or a Fellow ANFP Member
Have you spent a career in foodservice? Share your wisdom and advice in a new feature from ANFP. My Recipe for Success is aimed at retired members or those who have spent a long career in foodservice. Share the biggest lessons you’ve learned to a lengthy, fruitful, and successful career in the non-commercial foodservice industry.