What do chefs seek from their employees? What do guests expect from restaurants? What do students seek from their programs? This question alone defines the first essential objective and the most critical aptitude we can establish in our classrooms. The fundamental answer to the ideal culinary program graduate: dependability.

“I learned that you get your first job on your ability and every other after that on your dependability.”
– Mike Royer (Comic inker and character penciler for Walt Disney)

Ask a chef, restaurateur, or manager what is the essential trait they seek from an employee, especially a new hire, and they are likely to rhetorically ask, “Will they show up?”

This may seem more evident today than in the past, but it has always been at the top of everyone’s list. This relates to trust – something that is rarely evident until it is earned and then it must be earned anew – time and again. Trust is not a given, but it is always sought. Trust is very easily lost and once so is very difficult to regain. Trust and dependability are, in many ways, one and the same. It is something that must be learned environmentally and reinforced constantly by all. Trust and dependability are best developed when a person is young and reinforced through actions, every minute of every day, in every situation, and through every task. This must be the case until the essence of trust is second nature. It is who a person is and how they are perceived.

Will a person show up, ready to perform? Will they complete a task as defined to the level of excellence required? Will this result be the case every time, all the time? Can you trust this will be the case even when the person is unsupervised and left to their own standards to demonstrate dependability? This dependability is what we all seek from employees, students, supervisors, owners, parents, friends, and work associates.

How do educators instill dependability? Can it be taught? Should we assume each of our students will bring dependability to the table on day one?

The answer is yes dependability can be taught by first creating an environment where dependability is expected and the norm. It is measured and rewarded. No, we can’t expect students to bring this trait with them on day one. If approached correctly, this symbol of trust will eventually become part of who the person is, a trait most admired and always expected.

Everything we teach, every part of our daily interaction with others, every task no matter how large or small, and every moment when students interact should be accompanied by a dependability expectation and measurement.

Here are a few dependability measurements:

• being on time means being there 10 to 15 minutes early
• being prepared to hit the ground running with a well-presented uniform
• prior review of material before class
• prepared for note taking
• expected to successfully implement what was previously taught
• focus on working as a supportive team member

This is where dependability resides. Trust and dependability are quietly measured by every person who meets the student, faculty member, or chef instructor. Why not make it part of the student’s assessment? This is more important than nearly any other assigned task. Can the student be trusted to meet the expectations of dependability?

It is unlikely an employer will ask whether a new employee understands sanitation, knife cuts, cooking methods, product identification, and flavor pairing. It is assumed a graduate will fully understand all of this and there is trust the employee is aware and able to consistently execute all of this. We have an obligation to meet this expectation, to adequately prepare each student to live up to this early trust and not disappoint. It is dependability that employers seek, and it is dependability that will set the stage for each graduate’s ongoing success.

Dependability is so essential it should be a graduation requirement. It is not difficult to measure because it either exists or it doesn’t. It is not a case of dependability levels, not a numeric or alpha grade. It is either met or it isn’t.

“It is my honor to present a degree to this student who we know will show up, suit up, and perform at the expected levels for the position of cook.”

Now, wouldn’t this be a guarantee that would inspire employers and build confidence in graduates? Isn’t this a label you would want attached to your program and its graduates?

Setting the stage for dependability is an essential part of our job as educators. We must insist on it and exhibit it ourselves every moment of every day. Dependability is the most significant lesson we can offer.

PLAN BETTER – TRAIN HARDER

Paul Sorgule, MS, AAC, president of Harvest America Ventures, a mobile restaurant incubator based in Saranac Lake, N.Y., is the former vice president of New England Culinary Institute and a former dean at Paul Smith’s College. Contact him at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..