Olive Garden training designers worked with the Educational Institute to adapt EI's Supervisory Skill Builders workbook series to meet the training needs of the restaurant company's "Foundations of Leadership" program for prospective supervisors. Olive Garden researched and carefully selected the Educational Institute as its partner in development for the training program.

"The Educational Institute is very pleased to work with Olive Garden in its quest to prepare its people for the challenge of assuming future leadership roles," stated Wes Ardis, vice president, allied programs for the Educational Institute.   "It was very exciting working with Olive Garden's dedicated Foundations of Leadership team as they personalized selected Supervisory Skill Builders content to highlight and underscore Olive Garden's principles and parent company Darden's 'Core Values.'" 

The result of the customization process, Ardis explained, is "an exciting, hands-on five-step program designed to inspire team excellence and to develop leadership skills that will enable Olive Garden employees to take on positions of greater responsibility." 

The Foundations of Leadership program features both repurposed material from Supervisory Skill Builders and new material developed by Olive Garden training designers in conjunction with EI staff members. Topics in the program include: Prioritizing Tasks, Developing Self and Others, Solving Problems, Communicating with Others, and Upholding Standards as a Supervisor. 

Supervisory Skill Builders is the Educational Institute's most-customized training program. EI has created specialized versions of the nine-workbook series for private clubs, casinos, restaurants and foodservice operations, military housing, the spa industry, and Opryland's attractions group.   The workbooks, which can be used as a self-study tool or taught in a classroom or seminar format, prepare supervisory employees for EI's Certified Hospitality Supervisor (CHS) professional certification. 

For more information on EI's training programs and customization opportunities, call 800-344-3320 or 517-372-8800 (outside the U.S. and Canada, call 407-999-8100), or visit EI's web site at www.ei-ahla.org. 

Established in 1953 as a nonprofit educational foundation of the American Hotel & Lodging Association, the Educational Institute is the premier source for quality hospitality education, training, and professional certification, serving the needs and advancing the excellence of hospitality schools and industries worldwide.