Hire for Attitude. Train for Skill. (Still True.)
Technical skills can be taught. Attitude, ownership, and hospitality mindset are much harder to train.
I’ve heard that phrase for years:
Hire for attitude. Train for skill.
And after all this time?
Still true.
Maybe more than ever.
Skill Can Be Built
Knife skills?
Teach it.
Station flow?
Teach it.
Recipes?
Teach it.
Systems?
Teach it.
Attitude Is Different
Much harder to teach:
curiosity
humility
work ethic
ownership
hospitality instinct
how someone treats others when stressed
That shows up long before skill does.
I’ll Take the Hungry Learner
Give me the person who asks questions.
Give me the one who jumps in.
Give me the dishwasher watching the line because they want to learn.
(I may know a story or two about that…)
Those people grow.
Final Thought
Skill fills positions.
Attitude builds teams.
