I still remember the sweltering, high-octane chaos of my first line cook position in Manhattan; the air was thick with the smell of searing garlic and the frantic shouting of orders. In that kitchen, I quickly realized that technical skill alone wouldn’t save you if your team didn’t trust you. You could plate the most exquisite risotto in the city, but if you couldn’t communicate with the person on the grill, the whole service would collapse like a poorly made soufflé. Most “leadership gurus” will tell you that networking is all about strategic handshakes and exchanging business cards, but they’re missing the point entirely. Learning how to build work relationships…