Thomas Keller, Core Values, and the Desire for Excellence

Photo by Barbara Charalambidis

Sometimes when I read about Thomas Keller it makes my heart ache with feelings of inadequacy.   He is a chef who oversees some of the world’s greatest restaurants.   But read Grant Achatz’s account of how Mr. Keller taught him to prepare tripe, tending the item for weeks, showing up early morning when the process so dictated, creating an unlikely magical dish through knowledge and persistence, and you see that Keller also is a teacher, if not some sort of eyes-wide-open, every-leaf-in-the-forest-accounted-for Zen master.   He makes great food AND he makes people greater in the process. 

From consistency of accounts one might conclude, without having met him or tasted his food, that excellence reigns in every crevice of Mr. Keller’s world.  He does the right things, for the right reasons, in the right way.    

•  He preaches awareness, demanding that his staff understands what is going on around them, what divergent forces are impacting their processes, and what can be learned from the causes and effects witnessed;
• He is consistently great while being consistently innovative; there are things that must stay the same and things that must change, and those things must exist in tandem;
• He makes those around him better by demanding excellence – he asks that his cohorts desire to be better today than they were yesterday;
• He understands people and their reference points and what creates the timeless keepsake of a memorable experience;
• His principles rule the day; he knows which things are beyond compromise and must remain for all seasons (in the Sir Thomas More way, I mean, not the menu-rotation way);
• He is both smart and thoughtful;
• He works hard and works humbly;
• He cares about more than just himself;  he is committed to uplifting the entire dining industry, not just himself or his own business interests; and
• He is a true believer who invests his staff in organizational goals that consider all stakeholders. 

It is not hard to see why his reputation as a teacher and mentor adjuncts to his renown as a world class chef. [FN1]
 

As any great leader does, Mr. Keller has deeply held values and principles.  New employees do not simply enter a kitchen upon signing with Mr. Keller; they enter a philosophy.  Literally.  Each newbie receives a list of “core values” which are expected to be “imbued in [their] core” as they work “tirelessly and fearlessly” towards the common goals of the organization.  Through this philosophical fulcrum of character unity, consistent excellence can be achieved in all of Keller’s kitchens and enterprises while creativity remains intact.

Here at SPS, we too strive for consistent excellence, with each classroom being a separate enterprise linked to a broader, common goal and held to common expectations.  As such, we continually are in the process of redesigning the orientation/workshop for newly hired adjuncts.   Drawing from Mr. Keller’s inspiration, I think it would be advantageous if we had a list, similar to Mr. Keller’s, outlining the core values that each SPS instructor must possess and embody.   We all teach in our classrooms from our own authentic, creative selves.  But there are common denominators that make SPS instructors great and that set apart the educational experiences we provide. 

In an effort to capture those commonalities, we would like to make a list of “The 10 Core Values of an SPS Instructor” and we would like your input in the process.  You do not have to make a list of 10 things – by all means do so if you have the inclination – but it would be great to hear what each of you consider the most important core value an SPS adjunct can honor and hold.

After reviewing your feedback, we will compile a list, circulate it to all, and make it a critical piece of our new adjunct orientation.  Perhaps the best way we can orient a new instructor to SPS is to let them know with clarity and conviction those common things for which we each uncompromisingly stand.

Please reply to this post and share your preeminent core value(s). 

[FN1] Here is a clip of Mr. Keller teaching Adam Sandler how to make "The World's Greatest Sandwich" for a movie scene.  If ever the Chef's genius is in doubt, realize that he invented a sandwich combining the greatest elements of the BLT, grilled cheese, and the Fried Egg Sandwich into ONE mouth-carnival-between-two-slices-of-bread sandwich.  The recipe is included in the clip.  You are welcome.