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restaurant-operations-101 · 1 year

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Once upon a time there were a select few restaurants to choose from for casual sit down meals with friends and family.

Now, they seem to be on every corner. Every flavour, every price and all sorts of variety. For consumers its fantastic! For owners its beyond a challenge to grow market share in such a competitive climate.

Great Food, Great Service in a Great Environment was the secret to success, however, all aspects have evolved in a very short time. Food from all over the world is now available a block away, you don't even need to go there, it will be brought to your doorstep... insert a completely different conversation around how third party delivery companies are killing the bottom line and we are held hostage to them.

Some meals you can get hot and ready at your local grocery store, that was never a thing 12-15 years ago. Even 7/11 has hot and ready items.

Again, great for the consumer but a challenge for owners/operators!

So how do we change the landscape, and gain guests?!

Assuming we have the big 3 of great food, service and environment (Nowadays a fourth "Great Value" sneaks into the scene from time to time) there is a defining piece to this puzzle.... Our people!

Our front line staff that are "trained" as our "Brand Ambassadors" if you will. Supporting them are our management team! That full team will define our market share through core-operations and execution.

We already know to "invest" in out team. Great owners/operators that want a long term, sustainable restaurant understand this. These teams build a "name" for your brand in the community, the live community and, more importantly these days, the online community via google, yelp and so many more.

We have all seen our industry drop training standards marginally over the last number of years. When you ask staff / managers what are their biggest challenges you will hear..."Communication" as being one of the predominant red flags.

The challenge is to turn down the fire hose that the staff drink from and dial it back to core-ops. Keep it simple! Floor operations! What are your bill times off the bar and out of the kitchen? What does the quality look/taste like? Are servers executing their "Steps of service"? Are managers "Present" through the shift, physically and mentally. Are you staffed accordingly? Did you forecast a schedule? Do you have enough product? Did you order map with running pars? Are systems in place so you are "revenue ready"? and so many more spinning plates!!! Hence the challenge and love of the game.

So one question. How do we keep everyone aligned and focused and pointed in the same direction? Via communication of expectations and vision. Well....I found something that will help!

Literal gamechanger!!! Many years ago I used a "version" of this, not quite as evolved as this one. This keeps the team on point and in this climate the team means everything! Enjoy :)

#restaurant manager #restaurant #restaurant owner #hospitality #hospitality training #training`#food and drink #grow sales

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