Originally published on Good Men Project
Often, tips for running a restaurant focus solely on streamlining operations or becoming a better manager. However, when emphasis is placed on empowering team members, employees feel a greater sense of ownership, recognize the importance of their roles, and get more satisfaction from their work. These tips from culinary entrepreneur Paul Bulau can help.
Not only will your team be happier, you’ll experience less turnover, increased productivity, and better collaboration among all members. Operations will be naturally streamlined, and you’ll become a better manager.
Stay Positive
As the leader, you set the tone in your establishment. Whether it’s a casual diner or an upscale fine dining restaurant, your guests recognize when the vibe is bad. A negative attitude from a server or an overall unpleasant atmosphere will drive guests away. Do your part to keep things positive even when things get stressful.
Be Transparent
Transparency is especially important to millennial employees. The younger generation has a greater need to feel connected than previous generations of workers did. Conduct regular staff meetings to keep employees up to date on any changes in the business. Witnessing transparency from management will help workers feel more empowered and motivated to do their best.
Plan Ahead
The food service industry can be unpredictable, and for many entrepreneurs, that’s part of the appeal. However, your management style should remain stable. Don’t leave your servers scrambling to fill the space when a team member leaves. Plan ahead to fill that gap.
“When employees see you are doing your best to minimize stress and chaos, they will feel more confident in the workplace and more willing to put in extra effort when it’s needed,” explains Paul Bulau.
Recognize Leadership
Delegating is part of management, but too many managers find one or two “go-to” people to whom they delegate day-to-day tasks and never stop to consider their other choices.
This practice can be especially frustrating to team members when those go-to people aren’t reliable or don’t communicate well with other workers. Paul Bulau recommends taking the time to recognize who among your team can handle a leadership role and listen to employee feedback.
Be Accountable
You expect your employees to take responsibility when they make mistakes, and management needs to do the same. As Paul Bulau explains, your team will feel more respected when they see you tackling problems honestly and fairly. Trusting that the boss isn’t going to scapegoat or try to justify bad decisions will leave team members feeling more empowered and willing to be accountable themselves.
Support Team Member’s Professional Goals
Do you have a dishwasher who wants to be a chef or a bartender who wants to learn the latest in cannabis-enhanced mixology? It may not be within your budget to pay for an employee’s continued education, but adjusting their schedule so they can attend class is a step in the right direction.
When employees see that you’re invested in their career goals and want them to succeed, they will feel more empowered and excited to improve.
Celebrate Successes
Let your team know you’re paying attention by celebrating success in your organization. Whether a new employee has survived their first week in the food service industry, a server handled a difficult customer with grace, or your most senior employee is moving on, take a moment to let your staff know they are seen and appreciated.
About Paul Bulau
Paul Bulau is a culinary entrepreneur, business founder, and company owner/operator known for operational success, collaboration, and team development.
After earning a degree in Culinary Arts and Restaurant Management from the Scottsdale Culinary Institute, Paul launched, grew, and sold his first business. For the past 25 years, Paul has served in several management roles with a premier, on-site restaurant company.