While you may have never been in a professional kitchen, there’s a good chance you’ve heard “yes, chef.” Maybe its “The Bear” (which I enjoy because I am from Chicago and it has a genuine feel for the city), an episode of “Hells’ Kitchen, or the recent movie The Menu.
You’ve seen that in a professional kitchen the staff refer to each other as “chef.” When an order is announced or a directive given the staff answer “Yes Chef!”
Just as professional kitchens use the term Chef, many professional sports and performance settings use the title Coach.
Coaches refer to one another as “Coach” when talking with each other, and the athletes use the title addressing them.
Now I’ve heard some say that this is dehumanizing or builds a barrier to relationships. I don’t think that is implicitly true, but could see how its one piece of cultures like that.
Now you may come away from Hells Kitchen feeling like forcing everyone to say “Yes, Chf” could be demeaning. Or maybe entirely creeped out by the sycophantic way the staff uses it in The Menu.
And if you’ve seen a strength coach running around screaming like a drill sergeant making athletes do physical tasks while saying “Yes, Coach” you might have some fair questions.
But, in fact from my experience and beliefs, using the title of Coach instead of just a first name can both signal people our intent and show respect.
A kitchen staff answers each other “yes, chef” as a sign of respect and to indicate that they understand and will carry out the instructions given to them.
This helps to create a culture of discipline and efficiency within the kitchen, where everyone is working together towards a common goal of preparing high-quality dishes.
The use of “yes, chef” in a kitchen setting helps to establish a clear chain of command and a sense of hierarchy. This is a big part of the traditional French brigade system in restaurants.
French Brigade
The French brigade system is a hierarchical organizational structure used in professional kitchens. It was created in France and devives from military organizational concepts.
It divides the kitchen into several sections, each with its own head chef, who is responsible for a specific area of food preparation.
The head chef of each section is responsible for training and supervising the cooks under them. The most senior head chef is the Executive Chef, who is responsible for the overall operation of the kitchen.
The system is based on military hierarchy, in which the chef de cuisine is the captain and the sous chef is the lieutenant. Each member of the brigade has a specific role and responsibilities, and they work together to ensure the smooth running of the kitchen and the preparation of high-quality dishes.
I heard it said by Coach Loren Seagrave back in 2005. “You train animals, but you coach people.” For me, it highlights the difference between training and coaching with an approach that is appropriate for each.
Training refers to the process of teaching someone a specific skill or knowledge, often through repetition and drills. There is nothing wrong with training and its necessary.
It is a more directive and prescriptive approach that focuses on instilling specific knowledge and skills. This approach is often used for animals, as they are trained to perform specific tasks or behaviors.
Coaching, on the other hand, is a more holistic and empowering approach that focuses on the development of the individual.
It is based on the belief that people have the potential to grow and improve, and that they have the ability to learn and make decisions for themselves.
A coach acts as a guide, mentor, and facilitator. They help athletes to identify and reach their goals, and to develop the skills and knowledge they need to succeed.
When working with people, the coach should be focused on empowering the person to reach their full potential, to think for themselves, make decisions and take actions towards their goals.
The coach should be facilitating the process of learning and growth, rather than just giving instructions and expecting obedience.
The process of coaching embodies several important beliefs and the title of coach brings those along.
Yes, using the term “coach” is a sign of respect because it acknowledges the individual’s position of authority and expertise within their field.
A coach is someone who is trained and experienced in their field and has the ability to guide, teach, and mentor others.
By using the term coach, you are recognizing the person’s knowledge, skills, and experience. An athlete using it is showing that they respect and value their guidance.
Additionally, the term coach implies that the person is not just a boss or supervisor, but someone who is there to help you develop and improve, someone who is there to guide you to reach your goals and to help you achieve your full potential.
Using the term “coach” also implies that the person is approachable and willing to help, and that they are a valuable resource for the person they are coaching.
It shows that the coach is invested in the success of the person they are coaching and that they are willing to take the time to help them improve and reach their goals.
It also shows that the person recognizes the coach’s role in their development, and that they are willing to take guidance and criticism from the coach, which is essential for personal growth and improvement.
So using the title of coach is not just a sign of respect, its an expectation. If you use the title of coach, you have an obligation to go beyond just training.
The term coach comes with responsibility.
So in the end, using the term “coach” is a sign of respect because it acknowledges the individual’s position of authority, expertise and willingness to guide, teach and mentor others.
It implies that the person is approachable, invested in the success of the person they are coaching, and that they are willing to take the time to help them improve and reach their goals.
But its not just a sign of respect, it sets an expectation.
When I refer to members of our team as Coach Angelina or Coach Herrin I am both showing respect and setting an expectation.
When used in this way, using “Coach” instead of just first names is not dehumanizing, it is aspirational.
