Thank You, Teachers: Leadership Lessons from the Classroom to the Restaurant Floor

May 2026 | Leadership Simplicity

This week marks National Teachers Week, a time to celebrate the educators who shape our lives and communities. As the son of two teachers and a son-in-law to another, I’ve always held deep respect for this tireless profession. Teaching demands passion, patience, long hours, and often comes with modest pay and limited recognition.

It sounds a lot like restaurant management.

That parallel isn’t accidental. Teachers and hospitality leaders share remarkably similar roles: both guide, motivate, coach, and serve others in fast-paced, high-stakes environments. This week, I want to honor teachers while highlighting the powerful leadership lessons hospitality professionals can draw from them.

My Unexpected Career Path

When I attended Wichita State University, majoring in Integrated Public Relations, Communications, and Marketing, my family naturally assumed I would follow my parents into education. So when I chose restaurant management instead, the news landed with surprise—and some disappointment.

I had been working at Outback Steakhouse as a server, cook, and assistant manager to pay for college. My family saw it as a temporary job, not a career. They worried my education would “go to waste” in an industry many outsiders still don’t view as a “real job.”

Everything changed when, at age 25, I became a Managing Partner and Proprietor of my own Outback Steakhouse. My parents proudly posed for photos under my name on the glass. My dad even co-signed the $25,000 buy-in loan at the bank. What began as a college job became a 30-year journey that took me from server to C-suite.

Hospitality Leaders Are Teachers Too

The moment I stepped fully into restaurant leadership, I realized something profound: hospitality leaders are teachers and coaches every single day.

We may not coach the basketball or volleyball team after school, but we coach servers, cooks, and team members in real time—every shift, every service. We teach:

• Exceptional customer service

• True teamwork under pressure

• Food safety and operational excellence (yes, even the “boring” stuff that keeps guests safe and happy)

• Work ethic, communication, and resilience

  
  

I often hear seasoned leaders complain about “kids these days” who don’t want to learn or work hard. While we’re not their parents, we are in a powerful position to make a lasting impact. We can instill habits and mindsets that serve them in any future career.

Many of my best restaurant regulars over the years were teachers. They appreciated good food and drink, but they especially valued the experience—the chance to be served and to step away from their demanding days for a moment.

As someone who advanced from hourly server to executive leadership, I’m profoundly grateful for every mentor who acted as a teacher and coach. Some modeled behaviors I wanted to emulate; others showed me what not to do. Either way, I learned.

Shared Skills: Teachers and Hospitality Leaders

Teachers and hospitality managers operate in dynamic, service-oriented worlds that demand overlapping strengths:

• Leadership through influence, not just authority

• Motivating teams toward shared goals

• Adapting quickly to changing circumstances

• Patient, human-centered development

• Clear communication under pressure

  
  

Teaching is a form of management—of learning and behavior. Hospitality management is filled with teaching moments—training staff, educating guests, and developing the next generation of leaders.

Both professions reward those who are patient, adaptable, service-minded, and genuinely invested in human growth.

From Restaurant Floors to Executive Coaching

And now, part of what my new company does is Executive Coaching. I have the honor of helping executive leaders focus on growth, eliminate unnecessary complexity, and drive stronger results.

So Mom and Dad… I guess I did become a teacher and coach after all!

If you’re a hospitality leader, restaurant operator, or executive looking to simplify your leadership and achieve better outcomes, I invite you to check out our website at www.leadershipsimplicity.com. You can sign up for a free consultation and learn more about how we can support your growth.

A Gift to Celebrate

This National Teachers Week, let’s honor the educators in our lives—whether they teach in classrooms or on the restaurant floor.

As hospitality leaders, we have a beautiful opportunity to act as teachers and coaches every day. Whether we’re helping someone master algebra or perfectly cook a medium steak, the impact is real.

Let’s celebrate teachers. Let’s remember how much we have in common. And let’s commit to being the kind of leaders who develop people, not just manage shifts.

Thank you, teachers. You make the world better—and you remind us that great leadership always starts with teaching.

What about you? Who was a teacher or coach that shaped your leadership style? Share in the comments—I’d love to hear your story.

Jason Brooks

Founder, Leadership Simplicity

Executive Coach | Keynote Speaker | Hospitality Consultant