Episode #3
Navigating What Feels Like a Whole New Restaurant Industry - An Interview with Christin Marvin (Part 1)
Send us Fan Mail The restaurant business didn’t just “bounce back” after COVID. It rewired itself, and a lot of us are still trying to run today’s shifts with yesterday’s playbook. We talk with Christin Marvin of Columbine Hospitality about what happens when institutional knowledge disappears, why staffing feels like a grind, and how to rebuild a team when experience is thinner and expectations are changing fast. We get concrete about restaurant hiring practices that work now: hiring for attitude and culture fit, defining core values as real behaviors, and building interview guides that help managers stop guessing. From there we dig into the unglamorous fix that changes everything: documented training. SOPs, checklists, onboarding steps, and clear standards turn “why can’t they just get it?” into coaching you can repeat, measure, and improve. We also talk Gen Z at work, why the constant “why” can actually force healthier management, and how growth paths plus frequent one-on-ones drive retention. Leadership development is a major thread, especially for GMs and assistants. We break down 30-60-90 day plans, weekly alignment check-ins, and why owners have to slow down long enough to set the mark before they complain someone missed it. We also touch burnout and Positive Intelligence, plus how AI and better systems can free leaders to be present on the floor. Kristen shares resources like Multi-Unit Mastery at irfbook.com and a gifted coaching session for listeners who want to take action. If this hits home, subscribe, share with an operator friend, and leave a review so more people in hospitality can find the tools to run better shifts and build stronger teams. Make sure to follow us on Instagram.com/barninja and subscribe on your favorite podcast platform. Also be sure to stop by the store at barninja.com to purchase a J Plate bottle opener to help keep the show on the air! Thanks for tuning in! Mike, Bill & Kayla
