Ready to Run the Kitchen?
Take the Leap from Line Cook to Culinary Leader

Steve Weiss, ACC
Transformational Leadership Academy

The culinary world is known for its fast pace, intense pressure, and constant demand for excellence. As a line chef, you are at the heart of the action, turning out dishes in the heat of service, but there’s often a lingering question: How do you move from the line to leading the team? Becoming a lead or executive chef doesn’t happen overnight. It requires skill, determination, and a willingness to grow beyond the stovetop. Let’s explore the essential steps that will guide you from a line position to standing at the helm of the kitchen.

1. Master the Fundamentals

Think of your current role as the training ground for everything that comes next. The first step in climbing the ladder is about mastering where you are. It's not enough to be good at cooking; you have to excel at consistency and precision, even during the most chaotic dinner rush. Be the person that everyone looks to when the pressure mounts. Take pride in each plate you send out, and make sure it’s perfect every single time. Become the master of every station, so that your teammates and managers know they can count on you.

Concrete Tip: Volunteer to rotate stations until you know each one like the back of your hand. This versatility will demonstrate your deep understanding of kitchen operations. Also, take time after shifts to practice knife skills or learn about ingredients you don’t often work with. Offer to work prep shifts or cross-train whenever possible.

Online Resource: Websites like Serious Eats and ChefSteps provide excellent resources on cooking techniques and kitchen skills. You can also explore YouTube channels like “Joshua Weissman” or “Bon Appétit” for tutorials on mastering kitchen fundamentals.

2. Seek Out Learning Opportunities

To climb the culinary ladder, you need to be hungry for more than just food—you need to be hungry for knowledge. Look beyond your own station and take an active interest in the whole kitchen operation. Learn about food costing, inventory management, and supplier relationships. Shadow your sous chef and offer to help with tasks that aren’t normally in your purview. Dive into books, watch educational cooking videos, or even take courses on culinary management. The more you know, the more valuable you become.

Concrete Tip: Ask to attend management meetings, even if just to observe. Start taking notes about inventory or cost control methods, and ask your head chef for a brief explanation afterward. You can also seek certifications in food safety or culinary management, which are often available online or through local culinary institutions. These qualifications show initiative and can give you an edge.

Online Resource: Courses on Coursera or Udemy often include culinary management and food safety topics. Websites like Rouxbe Online Culinary School also offer classes that help improve both your cooking and kitchen management skills.

3. Refine Your Leadership Skills

The biggest leap from line cook to lead or executive chef is learning to lead others. It’s no longer just about executing dishes, it’s about being the person who can inspire a team to work together, especially during tough services. A great leader knows how to manage stress, mediate conflict, and motivate others, even on the toughest days. To do this, you'll need to practice communicating effectively, delegating tasks, and showing empathy to your team.

Concrete Tip: Start by mentoring a junior cook in your kitchen. Take time to show them the best way to complete tasks and give them constructive feedback. This will help you practice giving guidance and build your confidence as a leader. Consider reading books like “Leaders Eat Last” by Simon Sinek, which focuses on how to create trust and cooperation within teams.

Online Resource: Platforms like LinkedIn Learning provide courses on leadership and management that are highly applicable to the culinary world. You can also explore Skillshare for leadership development workshops.

4. Understand the Business Side

Moving up the ladder means learning the business side of the kitchen. It’s no longer just about food; it’s about keeping the entire operation successful. To be an effective executive chef, you need to understand budgeting, labor costs, menu pricing, and how all of these elements work together to create a profitable business.

Concrete Tip: Offer to help with food inventory or order sheets, and use those experiences to learn about cost control. Create your own version of a budget for a section of the kitchen and present it to your sous chef for feedback. Even if it’s just an exercise, the practice will give you insight into how the numbers work.

Consider spending time in the front of house to understand that side of the operation as well. Understanding the complete guest experience—from the greeting at the door to the final dessert—will help you design better menus and build a more cohesive kitchen team. Talk to servers about what customers love and dislike, and learn how to design dishes that not only taste great but sell well too.

Online Resource: Websites like The Balance Small Business offer articles on budgeting and financial management for restaurants. You can also check out Toast for insights on restaurant management and profitability.

5. Develop Your Signature Style

Lead chefs are often recognized for their unique culinary voice. Developing a signature style doesn’t happen overnight, but it starts by experimenting and pushing beyond the boundaries of the established menu. Take every opportunity you can to get creative—whether it’s crafting a daily special, designing a new dessert, or putting your twist on family meal.

Concrete Tip: Set yourself a personal challenge to create a new dish each week. Use these opportunities to explore new ingredients or techniques. Present these dishes to your head chef or even your team, and seek honest feedback. Over time, these experiments will help you develop a unique style that others will recognize.

Online Resource: Explore websites like Fine Dining Lovers and Tasting Table to discover new dishes, ingredients, and flavor trends. The website Food52 is also great for sparking creativity with its diverse recipes and community discussions.

6. Network and Build Relationships

You might have heard the phrase, “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know.” While your skills are fundamental, building strong relationships in the culinary world can open doors you didn’t even know existed. Connect with suppliers, get to know the front-of-house team, and develop good working relationships with other chefs in the industry.

Concrete Tip: Make it a habit to introduce yourself to visiting chefs or vendors and ask questions about their work. Join online chef groups or local culinary associations. Attend networking events or food festivals, and make a point of staying in touch with the people you meet. Offer your help at events like charity dinners or pop-up kitchens, where you can meet influential people in the industry.

Online Resource: Join forums like ChefTalk or social media groups on platforms like Facebook and Reddit where chefs connect, share experiences, and network. Websites like Eventbrite are also great for finding culinary events and networking opportunities.

7. Be Ready to Take the Leap

You can do everything right, but in the end, advancing to an executive chef position requires courage and seizing the right opportunity when it comes. Let your sous chef or executive chef know your goals—they might have advice, mentorship, or even a chance for you to step up. Show that you are serious about your future by asking for feedback and then acting on it.

Concrete Tip: Schedule a one-on-one meeting with your current head chef to discuss your career goals and ask them for advice on how to reach the next level. Be open to both praise and criticism, and turn the feedback into an action plan. Create a timeline for yourself with specific goals—like running a full service as a substitute for the sous chef or creating a profitable menu item that stays on the menu.

Online Resource: Look for job opportunities on websites like Culinary Agents and Poached Jobs where you can find listings for positions that will help you advance. Also, consider joining platforms like HCareers for job postings and career advice tailored to the hospitality industry.

The Journey to the Top

Moving from a line chef to a lead or executive chef is a journey of growth—not just in skill but in mindset. It’s about refining your technique, mastering the business, and learning to lead a diverse team. By taking on extra responsibilities, developing your leadership skills, and building relationships, you can position yourself as a chef who’s ready to inspire the kitchen, create incredible experiences, and leave a mark on the culinary world. Remember, every lead chef was once in your shoes, and with dedication, tenacity, and a dash of creativity, you can take the next step to make your own mark.

The kitchen is a demanding environment, but for those who are passionate, it’s also a place of immense growth. Each step you take beyond your comfort zone is one closer to realizing your dreams. Push forward, stay curious, and soon enough, you’ll be the one leading the charge in the heat of service.