All restaurants have their busy periods - weekend nights or Sunday brunch, maybe, or the couple of hours before a baseball game for restaurants near the ballpark. During the holiday season it can seem like every minute of every day is busy. If you're new to owning a restaurant or a new manager of one, here are some ways to help keep your staff inspired over the next few months!
Some managers or owners don't see the kitchen or the bar or the serving line once the restaurant is fully staffed. When you work alongside your employees, you show them that what they're doing is important, and that you want to help. There is also the unconscious equation that you're not above doing the "dirty work." This doesn't mean you have to shirk your management duties, but simply lend a hand when it's particularly busy or you've had an employee call out for shift. Just make sure you're comfortable working in that position or you might be in the way!
Your employees may also appreciate keeping their overtime to a minimum - or they may want overtime! Check with each individual to make sure you know what their preferences are and then help them adhere to their schedules.
Find ways to surprise them with things they'll like. Your dishwasher might like a $10 iTunes gift card while one of your servers might be saving up for a new pair of shoes. If you're regularly chatting with your staff and hearing to what's going on in their lives, it should be pretty easy to know what will make them happy. And if you don't know or can't find out - ask them!
Lastly - Listen. The one thing most everyone wants is to be heard. If you have someone telling you that someone at the bar is harassing them, or that their shoulder hurts, or that they are having child care issues - listen. There's not always a need to do something - except if they're being harassed, of course - but you'll find that out if you're attentive to what they're saying. Especially where improvements to the restaurant are concerned, whether it's a change to a menu item or an idea for a happy hour special. Constructive criticism should always be welcome.
The holiday season is busy for everyone in the restaurant - yourself included! Tensions can sometimes run high, but hopefully everyone can discuss their issues openly. The suggestions above will hopefully help keep everyone on an even keel and put the focus where it should be: delivering your patrons a good time during the special end-of-year months.
