Podcast Summary
Podcast: RESTAURANT STRATEGY
Host: Chip Klose
Episode: 8 Leadership Tips for 2026
Date: January 19, 2026
Episode Overview
In this actionable and focused episode, host Chip Klose delivers eight concise, practical leadership tips geared toward independent restaurant owners heading into 2026. Drawing from his experience coaching and mentoring through his P3 mastermind, Chip emphasizes leadership mindsets and habits that can be immediately implemented for higher team engagement and stronger restaurant culture. The tone is direct, encouraging, and rooted in the realities of busy restaurateurs’ lives.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Leadership vs. Management (06:34)
- Distinction: Leadership and management are different roles—sometimes you wear one hat, sometimes the other, but rarely both at once.
- Quote:
“I like to think of them as two different hats and sometimes, yes, you gotta wear one hat and sometimes you gotta wear the other. Very rarely will you wear them both at the same time...”
— Chip Klose, (07:15)
2. The Eight Leadership Tips
1. Be Predictably Calm (08:03)
- Explanation: In an environment full of chaos, the leader should steady the room and ground people rather than adding to the panic.
- Action: Intentionally practice calmness, particularly during stressful times.
- Quote:
“Chaos is everywhere in our dining rooms. And a great leader doesn't add to it. You know what they do, they absorb it.”
— Chip Klose, (08:17)
2. Set the Standard in Public, Correct in Private (09:08)
- Explanation: Praise employees in front of others but give constructive criticism privately—this preserves morale and creates a culture of respect.
- Mantra: Praise loudly, coach quietly.
- Quote:
“Your culture listens to how you handle both.”
— Chip Klose, (09:38)
3. Decide Faster Than You Feel Ready (10:03)
- Explanation: Indecision creates exhaustion and uncertainty; a wrong decision can be corrected, but no decision stifles momentum.
- Action: Move before you feel totally prepared; trust you can course-correct.
- Quote:
“Indecision is more exhausting to a team than a wrong decision, right? Because a wrong decision can get corrected quickly. But indecision, stewing on something, debating it over and over — that is exhausting.”
— Chip Klose, (10:22)
4. Say Thank You All The Time (11:09)
- Explanation: Regularly thank and acknowledge effort; it leads to that effort being repeated.
- Action: Lead with gratitude, recognize individuals often.
- Quote:
“Effort noticed is effort repeated, especially in a high stress environment like our restaurants.”
— Chip Klose, (11:11)
5. Coach The Why, Not Just The What (11:56)
- Explanation: Go beyond instructing what and how; explain why a task matters so employees connect tasks to bigger purposes.
- Action: When giving direction, always include the rationale and broader goal.
- Quote:
“People don’t commit to tasks, they commit to purpose. You are the exact same way, and your employees will follow suit.”
— Chip Klose, (12:08)
6. Protect Your Best People from Burnout (13:28)
- Explanation: Staffing isn’t just logistics—thoughtful scheduling can be a leadership act; recognize employees’ personal needs.
- Action: Use scheduling to give top performers breaks, preserving their energy and morale.
- Quote:
“Your schedule can be a leadership tool, not just a staffing solution.”
— Chip Klose, (13:31)
7. Own the Misses Out Loud (14:23)
- Explanation: Publicly take responsibility for mistakes; it sets an example of accountability and creates a safe environment for improvement.
- Action: Regularly admit your errors to empower others to do the same.
- Quote:
“Accountability from the top gives everyone else permission to make mistakes and acknowledge their mistakes and therefore to improve.”
— Chip Klose, (14:32)
8. Work On Your Business Visibly, In Front of the Team (15:20)
- Explanation: Let staff see you planning and engaging in proactive improvement—not just reacting to problems—so they understand it's the norm.
- Action: Dedicate visible time to working on the business, not just in it.
- Culture Point: This behavior sets the tone for a proactive culture.
- Quote:
“When they see you anticipating problems and being proactive, I promise you they will follow suit.”
— Chip Klose, (15:36)
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- Seth Godin Reference:
“Culture is people like us do things like this.”
— Chip Klose quoting Seth Godin, (16:02) - On Letting Teams See Your Growth:
“We are constantly leveling up, focusing on personal development, focusing on improving, on planning, on being proactive by anticipating issues, not just walking around, running around and being reactive, but being proactive with a meaningful amount of your day. It changes the way your restaurant operates.”
— Chip Klose, (16:13)
Quick Reference: The 8 Leadership Tips (Recap at 17:23)
- Be predictably calm.
- Set the standard in public, correct in private.
- Decide faster than you feel ready.
- Say thank you all the time.
- Coach not just the what, but the why.
- Protect your best people from burnout.
- Own the misses out loud.
- Work on the business visibly in front of your team.
Overall Tone & Final Thought
Chip’s delivery is empathetic and rooted in hard-earned industry experience. He stresses that these leadership approaches are accessible, actionable, and realistic for busy operators in 2026. By directly connecting leadership practices to profitability and team culture, the episode bridges actionable advice with long-term vision.
Recommended for:
- Independent restaurant owners/operators looking for immediate, practical leadership enhancements
- Managers aiming to foster higher staff morale and accountability
- Teams seeking a culture of proactive improvement over firefighting
For More:
Explore the P3 Mastermind or connect with Chip via RestaurantStrategyPodcast.com/Schedule for deeper engagement and actionable coaching.