With so many restaurants opening up, and in turn, so many people working daily, there is a high chance of employing lazy, rude or abusive staff. This has ruined so many restaurants. There are also times when you employ good staff, but you do not know how to manage them well. Let's get right into it, shall we?
Managing restaurant staff successfully is not hard. Don't think it’s difficult. There are people that have done it and are still doing it today. Yes, running a restaurant is challenging, and managing the staff is one of the biggest tasks. However, with the right tips, you can create a happy, respectful and productive team. Here are 7 tricks on how to manage restaurant staff well.
7 Tips on How To Manage Restaurant Staff Well
1. Hire the Right People
First, hiring the right people is crucial. Like I said earlier, the right staff can make or break your restaurant. Employees with a positive attitude, strong work ethic, and passion for hospitality will contribute to your success. This is a proven fact. Take your time, and effort, to hire the right people for each job you need to be done well in your restaurant. Now, how do you hire the right people for your restaurant?
How to Hire the Right People
- Define Roles Clearly: Make sure job descriptions are clear. This helps in attracting the right candidates.
- Conduct Thorough Interviews: Ask about their previous experience and how they handle stress.
- Check References: Contact previous employers to verify their work history and performance.
- Trial Periods: Consider a trial period to see how they fit in.
2. Provide Comprehensive Training
The importance of training your staff periodically cannot be over emphasized. Training is essential. It ensures that all staff members know what is expected of them. Proper training can reduce mistakes and improve customer satisfaction. It can also help to keep your staff updated on trending techniques on how to serve, communicate, deal with difficult customers, and overall, produce the best result that is required of them.
How to Train Your Staff
- Orientation: Start with an orientation to introduce new hires to the restaurant’s culture and procedures.
- Shadowing: Have new employees shadow experienced staff to learn the ropes.
- Ongoing Training: Offer regular training sessions on new menu items, customer service skills, and safety protocols.
- Cross-Training: Teach employees to handle multiple roles. This increases flexibility and helps in times of staff shortages.
3. Communicate Effectively
When it comes to how to manage your restaurant staff well, the role of communication in all teams, across all businesses, is a very vital one. Good communication is key to managing not just restaurant staff well, but any other employee in any other business you’re in charge of. Clear communication helps in avoiding misunderstandings and keeps everyone on the same page. It is a very very useful skill that everyone should have, moreso a manager.
Tips for Effective Communication
- Regular Meetings: Hold regular staff meetings to discuss updates, address issues, and gather feedback.
- Open Door Policy: Encourage staff to come to you with any problems or suggestions.
- Clear Instructions: Make sure your instructions are clear and concise. Confirm that everyone understands their tasks.
- Feedback: Provide constructive feedback regularly. Recognize good work and offer guidance on areas that need improvement.
4. Foster a Positive Work Environment
Why does a positive work environment matter? A positive work environment boosts the morale of not just the staff, but the customers as well. No one likes a gloomy, sad, and stiff place to work, not to mention eat. Positivity in a work environment also helps to increase productivity. Happy employees are more likely to provide excellent service to customers.
Creating a Positive Work Environment
- Recognition and Rewards: Recognize hard work and reward your staff. This can be through bonuses, employee of the month programs, or simple thank you notes.
- Team Building Activities: Organize team-building activities. This strengthens relationships and fosters a sense of camaraderie.
- Work-Life Balance: Be mindful of your employees' work-life balance. Avoid scheduling them for long, consecutive shifts.
- Safe and Clean Workspace: Ensure that the workplace is safe, clean, and organized. This helps in reducing stress and preventing accidents.
5. Lead by Example
As a manager, you need to learn and train yourself in the power of leading by example. As the head of any department, your behavior sets the tone for the staff. Your employees watch you, your tone, your work ethics, your professionalism, and function accordingly. If you’re lazy, I bet you, the staff under you will in turn be lazy.
If you’re not professional or too friendly, your staff in turn will feel like they can get away with anything, and in so doing, produce a poor performance in any task they’re given. Leading by example, good example, inspires your team to follow your lead and in turn, produce good and applaudable results.
How to Lead by Example
- Work Ethic: Show a strong work ethic. Be punctual, dedicated, and hardworking.
- Positive Attitude: Maintain a positive attitude, even during stressful times.
- Customer Service: Demonstrate excellent customer service. Show how to handle difficult situations with grace.
- Team Player: Be willing to pitch in and help out, no matter the task.
6. Set Clear Goals and Expectations
The reason why most work professionals highlight the usefulness of setting precise and concise goals is because they’ve tasted, and seen, that you can never go wrong if you’ve set a clear path for not just you, but for your team to follow. Setting clear goals and expectations helps your staff understand what is required of them. It provides direction and motivation.
How to Set Goals and Expectations
- SMART Goals: Set SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) for your team.
- Performance Metrics: Use performance metrics to track progress. Share these metrics with your staff regularly.
- Expectations: Clearly communicate your expectations. Make sure everyone knows their responsibilities and standards of performance.
- Regular Reviews: Conduct regular performance reviews to discuss achievements and areas for improvement.
7. Handle Conflicts Professionally
Learn to handle conflicts in not just a professional way, but in a fair and wise manner. Conflicts are inevitable in any workplace. How you handle them can affect the overall morale and productivity of your team. Do not show favoritism just because you prefer a worker to another, or you’re dating one of them (which is one of the major reasons you should never date a subordinate).
All conflicts in a workplace, especially among staff you’re in charge of, must be handled in an impartial and unbiased way. This goes a long way to showing your staff that you’re someone that is capable, fair and just: A leader.
Tips for Handling Conflicts
- Listen: Listen to all parties involved. Understand their perspectives before making a decision.
- Stay Neutral: Remain neutral and fair. Do not take sides.
- Address Issues Quickly: Address conflicts as soon as they arise. Do not let them fester.
- Find Solutions: Work together to find a solution that satisfies everyone involved. Focus on resolving the issue, not placing blame.
Conclusion
Learning how to manage restaurant staff well is a necessary tool to have in your arsenal if you want to be a good manager, or if you want your business to thrive. Managing restaurant staff well is very important for the success of your business. You can create a happy and productive team by hiring the right people and making the atmosphere in which you work, a happy and growth-filled place for your staff.
Remember, a well-managed staff leads to satisfied customers and a booming restaurant. Start implementing these tricks today and see the positive changes in your restaurant!
Photos are sourced by pixabay & freepik & Jason on unsplash
