How long has it been since YOU spent a full shift working the floor alongside your young team? An expo shift in the kitchen or 5 hours behind the bar?

Many of you are thinking “I don’t have time for that!” but it might surprise you to find out that doing so is part of the monthly repertoire of some of our industry’s top operators.

Recently a client took on his first shift in years working the floor at one of his 4 busy restaurants. He called me immediately afterwards and described the experience as “eye opening, extremely productive and long overdue.” During the shift, he drafted a list of issues to address with his management team and came up with several ideas about how to improve operations that would not have surfaced in a boardroom meeting.

There is no better way to transfer knowledge, passion and etiquette “from the root to the fruit.” The occasional shift with your team goes a long way to close the gap between front line staff and senior management (not to mention the invaluable direct contact with your customers).

I encourage you to roll up your sleeves and jump into the trenches with your team for a shift. You will be glad you did!

Onward and upward,

“Have you booked your office holiday party yet?” was the question the manager asked after I finished lunch at a restaurant the other day. I was caught off guard only because I was on the beach the day before!

She handed me a very fancy, glossy flyer and attempted to walk away. I had only one question: “Why should I book my office party here, instead of at one of the other 200 restaurants in the area?”

She looked puzzled, thought for a moment and replied, “If you book early I am pretty sure we offer a discount?” Wrong answer! Before anyone considers price, they have to WANT to book with you! The flyer was boring and did not make me say “WOW! This looks great!”

Let me give you a few examples of ways restaurants we have booked with WOWed us:

1. Gave us a custom designed cake with my company logo on it – plus matching cupcakes for each guest to take home to their families (I am certain that this was folded into the $/head charge)

2. Supplied an amateur photographer dressed up like an elf (a member of the wait staff)

3. “Multimedia pack” - They allowed us to bring in our own musical playlist and slide show for the LCD screens in the private room

None of these examples are terribly creative (or expensive) and I am certain that you and your team can come up with 5 better ideas in a 20 minute brainstorming session.

So if you want to BOOK OUT your venue this year, give your staff AT LEAST 3 GOOD REASONS to sway business in your favor.

To your success,