In 2019, the turnover rate in restaurants reached an all-time high of 75%.
With an average of 3/4 of new hires not staying on the team for a full year, its no wonder we are looking for better ways on how to manage a restaurant.
Retaining staff is only one of the many challenges restaurant managers face each day. And while building a strong and effective team is key to successfully managing a restaurant, it’s easier said than done.
We have to keep in mind that our guest’s positive experiences are what keeps them coming back. So read on to learn some helpful tips that will keep your staff engaged with their work, and guests happily in their seats.
Respect Your Staff
One of the best tips to motivate your team is to show that you respect them.
Treating each of your staff as individuals and keeping your cool will set the tone of the restaurant.
Listening to your team’s concerns and ideas, and learning about your staff on a personal level will build trust and respect.
When a manager shows respect, the staff will perform better and have a higher degree of loyalty.
Lead by Example
The best managers are leaders. The best leaders are not afraid to get their hands dirty and show employes that they are there to perform at a high level.
You can give instructions in the handbook or conduct group training sessions, but leading by example will be the best way to get your point across.
If you need your servers to keep an eye on the dining room and help out when the busboy gets weeded, show them how it’s done. Get out there with an empty tray and make a run to the dish pit.
Managing a Restaurant Takes Good Communication
Good communication is essential to work in a restaurant and is even more important as a manager. Without solid communication between you and your team, they will have a hard time working up to your expectations. Mainly because you haven’t clearly communicated to them!
Effectively communicating expectations will give your staff a clear picture of what’s expected of them.
Learning how to use constructive criticism will improve the work of the team. Giving lots of praise for a job well-done will encourage them to continue meeting your standards and working up to their full potential.
One way to show your team that you are a good communicator is to have an open-door policy. This way the staff will feel comfortable coming to you at any time with problems or concerns.
An open-door policy is empowering to your staff. It gives them a voice and connects them to the bigger picture.
Maintain a Positive Attitude…And Smile!
As a restaurant manager, you must always display a positive attitude. A negative attitude can trickle down through your staff right into your guests, making for a negative experience.
Sure, the job can be stressful or tough at times and you will have bad nights. But utilizing these other restaurant managing tips should make your job easier!
Nobody wants to be around someone with a bad attitude, especially at work or when you’re trying to have a nice night out. And remember, a smile is contagious!
Pay Accurately and on Time
If you’re not using an automated POS system for your daily operations, you should be. Not only will you be able to track sales and inventory more easily, but you also can also keep track of payroll.
One of the fastest ways to lose the faith of your staff is to make an error on their paycheck.
A pay stub maker will ensure your employees will be paid accurately and on time every week. After all, earning a paycheck is the main reason we go to work! Without it, your staff will find a new place to work in a hurry.
Be Transparent With Your Staff
Transparency is becoming more and more important in the workplace. Employees, especially in the younger generations, really care about what is going on with the business and like to feel connected to the big picture.
Providing an environment of transparency in your restaurant will engage your team and motivate them to perform at their highest levels.
Conducting regular staff meetings will keep employees up to date on the business.
And remember, transparency works both ways. Communicating constantly during the work shift will help you stay in the know of what’s going on.
With an open window of communication between managers and staff, you could stop problems before they start.
Delegate Tasks
Even an average day can bring on more than one person can handle, so learning to delegate is key to success.
Delegating smaller, less important tasks will free you up to focus on the more important things that need to get done.
Delegating to trusted employees will build their skills and confidence. It also helps them see what is involved in the day to day operations.
Planning Ahead Is Essential
One of the best restaurant management tips is to create a plan for each day. This means making a list and sticking to it. Things will come up during a day and a plan will help you stay on track.
A few key things to plan for each day are:
- Know who is on the schedule and plan their assignments.
- Take inventory of food and supplies. Know what you are running low on so it doesn’t surprise you later in the shift.
- Have a list of any other tasks that staff can tackle when it’s slow.
Having a written plan in place for the day, the week, and the month will help you succeed as a restaurant manager.
Planning ahead will help you to anticipate issues and problems before they arise, which will keep stress and chaos out of your restaurant.
Managing a restaurant is no easy task, for the unprepared. But researching and learning about your job sets you ahead of the rest.
Ready to Show Them What You’re Made Of?
Hopefully, you can take these tips with you into the workplace and put them into action. Finding a mentor is not a bad idea either.
When in doubt, put yourself in the shoes of your staff and of your guests and think about how they would like to be treated and act accordingly.
With all of this in mind, check out some of our other posts to get more ideas on managing a restaurant!
