Be organised when managing staff
Excellent organisational skills are not only imperative for efficiently managing a restaurant and properly managing teams, but also for ensuring the wellbeing of your staff. Working in a disorganised environment can be a major source of stress.
Managing your restaurant staff professionally and in an organised manner requires, for example:
- Preparing structured rotas
- Drawing up clear and comprehensive job descriptions (functions, tasks, responsibilities, etc.)
- Setting achievable objectives
- Clearly defining the roles of each person, and distributing workloads
- Accurately estimating staffing requirements.
Talk to your staff and let them speak
If you want to properly manage your restaurant staff, it is vital that you create a relationship based on trust, respect and intimacy. Listen to your teams, and let them express themselves by organising regular team meetings and having one-to-one conversations.
Give your teams considerate and constructive feedback and ask them how they feel about their role in the organisation. Every employee, regardless of their role, should feel comfortable sharing their thoughts concerns, suggestions, etc.
It is also important to appraise your staff on a regular basis in order to identify any potential problems and take corrective action.
Value and thank your restaurant staff
Managing staff involves keeping teams motivated. To do this, you must value their achievements.
Regularly congratulate and thank your employees (chef, floor manager, waiters, dishwashers, bartenders, etc.) for their efforts, and offer encouragement every day.
To empower your teams and boost long-term commitment, try giving your staff more autonomy, by delegating tasks and encouraging personal initiative. Help your employees improve their skills and work towards their career goals, and provide training so they can develop their talents.
You could also offer bonuses, salary increases, holiday vouchers or extra days off, for example, to reward your teams.
Also consider sharing your restaurant's successes with your staff, emphasising the role they have played in these.
