Tom Woker

There is not much more to say about the importance of a well run pre shift briefing. It aligns the team, sets clear goals and creates a shared direction. In many ways, it is the heart of the shift. What is worth talking about are two other types of briefings that we find shift managers often overlook: the Mini Brief and the Debrief. Both are short, require almost no preparation and fit naturally into the flow of service. The difference is their timing and purpose. Together, they allow...

When people think about a shift manager, they usually picture someone leading the floor, solving problems, speaking with guests and keeping service running smoothly. In reality, almost every decision a shift manager makes is also a financial one. From deciding when to send staff home, to handling guest complaints and reducing unnecessary ticket prints, shift managers have a direct impact on a restaurant’s profitability. The important thing is that these costs are not always obvious. Success...

Four principles every hospitality manager should teach their team Many new servers and bartenders struggle when several tables are seated at the same time. Sometimes it is three couples. Sometimes it is even less. They run from table to table, work hard, stay busy throughout the shift, and still feel like they are losing control. Usually, the problem is not motivation. It is not even a lack of experience. The problem is that they have not yet learned how to manage a section. As managers, one...