The Most Underrated Skills in the Kitchen and it’s Not Knife Work

Communication, leadership and ordering - the best chefs master more than just their blades.

Ask anyone outside the industry what makes a great chef, and you’ll hear the usual suspects:“Flavour.”“Knife skills.”“Creativity.”

Sure — those matter. But inside the kitchen, where the pressure hits boiling point and everything’s on the line, it’s not the julienne that saves the shift.

It’s the underrated skills. The invisible glue. The stuff that doesn’t show up on cooking shows — but keeps the wheels turning in real kitchens.

Let’s talk about the ones that really make a chef great.

Communication - The Real Sharpest Tool in the Kitchen

Knife skills get attention. Communication keeps the kitchen alive.

In the heat of service, great chefs don’t just cook — they command. They know how to:

• Call clear, efficient dockets

• Keep the pass flowing under pressure

• De-escalate tension before it turns into chaos

They speak with purpose, listen fast, and never let ego cloud the message.

Talk like you plate — clean, confident, and to the point.

Ordering Smart

Anyone can cook. Fewer can order like a pro.

Getting your numbers right means:

• Fewer blowouts

• Less waste

• Higher margins

• Smoother prep

It’s not sexy — but knowing your pars, understanding supplier schedules, and tracking what actually moves off your menu? That’s next-level kitchen control.

The bonus is that good ordering makes your suppliers love you — and they remember that when stock gets tight.

Leadership  

We’ve moved past the scream-and-break-stuff era of kitchen culture. The best leaders today know how to:

• Build up their brigade

• Lead by example

• Spot burnout before it explodes

• Keep standards and morale high

Strong leadership means your team stays tighter, turns up harder, and grows with you — not against you.

You don’t need to be the loudest voice. You just need to be the steadiest presence.

Adaptability 

Menus change. Staff call in sick. A storm hits and half your bookings disappear.

Chefs who thrive know how to:

• Pivot on the fly

• Think in solutions, not problems

• Stay cool when the plan falls apart

Adaptability isn’t chaos — it’s calm in chaos.

Delegation  

Being the hero who touches every plate is noble — but unsustainable.

The best chefs know when to:

• Trust their team

• Step back from the pass

• Let their sous shine

• Focus on systems, not just sauces

  
  

Great kitchens don’t depend on one person. They run because everyone is empowered to deliver. Whether you're leading, learning, or levelling out — it’s these underrated skills that make the biggest difference They don’t win cooking competitions but they do win careers.

So sharpen the knives. But sharpen yourself, too.

The sharpest chefs in the room don’t just slice — they lead, listen, order, adapt, and grow.