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Managers and supervisors are pivotal to the success of the organization because, in most organizations, they shape the environment in which work gets done, set day-to-day priorities, and have the final say on how employees actually spend their time.

The following are the some of the management skills that the supervisors or mangaers should have.

* Planning: This is the very first step, and it involves the settling of the goals of certain activities. People can work better only when they have a clear vision of what it is they are setting out to achieve. Management involves the fixing of these goals, and communicating them to people. This is most commonly seen in the form of mission statements and vision statements that are created by companies, and also in the form of realistic targets.

* Staffing: The next function of basic management principles is to recruit the right people for the job. There is a proper method in which to carry out this task, and choosing the most appropriate people is vitally important. People with the right skill sets and experience levels are absolutely necessary for the smooth working of an organization.

* Organizing: Once the goals are set and the people are acquired, it is important to determine and establish what everyone’s job is exactly. This is one of the most basic business management principles, as it ensures that there is no duplication of work, and also no confusion about who is supposed to do what. This also involves the division of labor, the delegation of authority and departmentalization.

* Controlling: This is perhaps the most important function of all, as it involves comparing the real performance with expected performance. If there is a difference then the manager needs to understand why, and then proceed to solve the problem. This is where leadership skills and motivational qualities of the manager come in. On the other hand, if the performance is better than expected, then the manager has to reward the workers, and ensure that they keep these performance levels up.

* Directing: As mentioned earlier, the manager has to react once results have been compared to the expected performance. The reasons for disparities should be found, and the manager should strive to make the workers improve their performance in a positive manner. This also involves the inculcation of basic time management principles.

On going review and research is vital in order to keep on the cutting edge in business. While managing the present to ensure on going excellence in product and performance, a good leader is also able to look towards the future. Conducting and evaluating research is an important way of planning and being prepared for the future. For more information on Management Skills you can visit http://www.first-level-leadership.com

Kitchen management is no longer about organizing your own kitchen and ensuring sanitation, hygiene and safety while working in it. In fact, it is now regarded as a full-time occupation, opening doors to numerous career opportunities.

The Canadian Tourism Human Resource Council foresees that the food and beverage sector will employ around 1.95 million people by 2015, 68 percent of which constitutes young Canadians. So if you have passion for food, possess some kitchen organisation skills and want to make money with it, a hospitality program in Toronto kitchen management may be the right choice for you.

Roles and Responsibilities of a Kitchen Manager

The main responsibility of a kitchen manager is to ensure smooth operations in a commercial kitchen. While kitchen operations are considered back-end but they directly impact the reputation of the establishment, regardless of the nature of their business.

A kitchen manager is expected to
Supervise and coordinate kitchen staff
Assist in food production
Ensure sanitation and hygiene
Help in menu planning
Maintain kitchen equipments as required
Ensure that food is cooked properly and according to customer’s specifications
Make sure that the staff abides by set rules and regulations while working in the kitchen
Ensure that the food in both raw and cooked form meets health and safety standards
Oversee the inventory in the kitchen
Ensure a safe workplace for the staff
Deal with staff squabbles
Handle small errors, mishaps or accidents
Work in the place of absent employees

Career Opportunities for a Graduate in Kitchen Management

Career opportunities for a graduate in kitchen management are available with any organisation that has a food serving unit. The main employers include hotels, restaurants, resorts, camps, hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living centers, bars, nightclubs, school and college dining services and of course catering companies.

Although the job prospects in this field are good but most employers are keen in hiring individuals who possess required skill sets and have hands-on-experience. Besides, they need to have strong business and interpersonal skills. So even for the entry level jobs, students need to undergo a formal training in kitchen management and hospitality.

Becoming a Kitchen Manager

The job of a kitchen manager is not easy, as professionals require working late hours and dealing with different people on regular basis. The profession is not for everyone. Those who are genuinely interested in serving clients and can display leadership skills in crisis should only opt for it.

A postsecondary hospitality course in kitchen management is the basic requirement to build a career in this field. The one year diploma program covers various aspects of food operations management, such as customer service, sanitation and hygiene, quantity food production, principles of food, beverage and labour cost controls, kitchen supervision, food production, purchasing for commercial kitchen, hospitality, human resources and career planning.

The kitchen management course also helps you earn certifications including Smart Serve program and National Sanitation Training certificate. Students interested in building a career in restaurant management and catering can use the credits earned during this program to get into a two-year diploma program.