Why Too Many Cooks in the Kitchen is a Good Thing—But Not in Business Growth

In a busy restaurant, multiple chefs working together can be a beautiful thing—each contributing their unique skills to craft an unforgettable dining experience. The head chef oversees operations, while line cooks specialize in specific dishes, creating a seamless balance of efficiency and quality.

However, in business, leadership doesn't always follow the same recipe for success. Too often, I’ve seen managers unintentionally create confusion and impostor syndrome in their teams, ultimately slowing progress and stifling innovation. As Tim Ferriss puts it in Tools of Titans, “The best leaders don’t create followers; they create more leaders.” When leadership focuses on empowerment rather than micromanagement, teams thrive—just like a well-run kitchen where every chef knows their role and contributes to the bigger picture.

The Right Balance in Business

Businesses thrive when there’s accountability and trust. I’ve learned from firsthand experience that when teams are empowered, decision-making is decentralized, and data drives strategy, success follows.

Lessons from the Kitchen Applied to Business

Decentralized Management: In a kitchen, each station has its role—sauces, meats, and plating. Similarly, giving business teams ownership over their work leads to faster, more effective decisions.

Meritocracy & Talent Development: Just like a sous chef earns their position through skill and hard work, businesses thrive when results—not tenure—drive career growth.

Management by Numbers: A restaurant’s profitability depends on food costs, table turnover, and customer satisfaction. Businesses must also rely on data, not just gut feelings, to ensure strategies are based on facts.

Flexibility & Specialization: While a pastry chef focuses on desserts, they still collaborate with the team. Encouraging expertise while ensuring alignment drives innovation and efficiency in business.

Scaling Beyond the Founder: A great restaurant can run smoothly even when the head chef is away because of strong leadership and structure. Businesses must also build leadership that allows growth beyond a single person’s vision.

The Takeaway

Business success isn’t about limiting contributors; it’s about ensuring the right people make the right decisions in the right framework. Just like a well-run kitchen produces amazing meals, a well-structured team fuels sustainable business growth.

At the heart of it all, leadership is about setting the stage for excellence—not controlling every detail, but fostering an environment where individuals can thrive.

Because at the end of the day:

"Extraordinary results demand extraordinary effort. If you want to stand out, you can't afford to blend in."