How to Engage and Train Your Restaurant Workers Effectively
There are over one million restaurants in the US. Annual sales reach $799 billion. It is forecasted that by 2026, there will be approximately 16 million people working in the restaurant industry, suggesting tougher competition in the future. But it’s not just about winning over customers’ hearts and turning them into patrons; it’s also about cooperating with your employees and engaging them to progress as a business together. Only with a strong and dedicated team of professionals and enthusiasts, is it possible to achieve success both in the quality of your service and the ability to stand out among your competitors.
Unfortunately, the restaurant industry is infamous for its high turnover rate, rising from 66.7% in 2014 to 72.1% in 2015 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Staff leave can cost restaurants up to $15,521 per employee. Two things that can improve employees’ morale and decrease the turnover rate are a healthy environment and effective ongoing training.
Steps that have proven to motivate employees in service industry
1. Manage the right way.
It’s not a secret that working with other people can cause stress, especially when the motto is “The customer is always right.” That’s where poor management practices can lead to employee burnout and actual quitting. Your employees need managers who can set clear goals and provide support, ongoing communication, and recognition for the job done. Besides, manager’s responsibilities shouldn’t be constricted to interaction with employees only when a problem needs to be fixed — negative feedback won’t give any motivation. Give your employees credit for hitting goals, offer small-talk practices so that your staff can share with their colleagues how they managed to deal with a difficult situation. Listen to and teach them to ask questions.
