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As a business owner, you may have heard people give you this advice– introducing competition to the employees to motivate them to work harder. Telling your servers that the one who sells the most food will get a bonus at the end of the week is also not new.
But when you think about it, these are not the best ways to motivate them. Competition can never be friendly when people’s livelihoods are concerned. There are no shortcuts to achieving access and selling fast. However, it is not too hard to accomplish with the right steps.
As a restaurant owner, it is key to have a restaurant CPA in Oakland on your team. A professional provides financial guidance and helps you make the right decisions.
Motivating servers to sell better
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Provide solid sales training.
Some people are not bad at working. They just have not had the opportunity to learn from a good place. More often than not, servers and bartenders do not have the right training before they apply for a job at your restaurant. It is the employer’s responsibility to provide them with training and help them learn new skills as part of new employee orientation.
Train, teach, and counsel them every day and see how your results will change in no time. Most employees do not offer training because of the upfront cost. However, think about how much you will gain instead of how much you have to spend.
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Use your servers’ insights.
Your waitstaff has immense knowledge about the people who come into your restaurant since they deal with them every day. This allows them to take a peek inside. They know what customers like, what they do not like, and what they would like to improve. Including your waitstaff’s opinions when updating your menu can go a long way.
Once a month, hold a meeting where you pick up one item from the menu that is not selling well and look for solutions. For example, when a waitstaff recommends you add or change an item to the menu, and you do, they will then be motivated to sell that item the next day.
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Provide independence.
Some people need help, and you can do that by providing them with training. However, helping them does not mean holding their hand and following them around, supervising their every move. Servers want to prove they can do it on their own. They require a level of independence.
The best way to build trust and strengthen your relationship with them is by giving them independence. From scheduling shifts to working them, let your servers be inside the process. This shows trust and respect, and it makes the job easier for them.
Scheduling shifts, especially for hourly workers, can be difficult and require strong communication. Some of them may have school, college, or even a second job. It is good to let them have their preference for days off.
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Create a professional atmosphere.
Employees are more likely to act like professionals and take their jobs seriously when they are treated like respected professionals. Empower your servers to tackle sales-related issues and take more responsibility.
Encourage them to market your products. Have staff meetings when you reward good servers for coaching the weaker ones. This way, they will develop a sense of teamwork instead of being in competition with each other.
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Gamify the process.
If you and your staff likes games, there are various strategies you can adopt. They can have fun while waiting tables and serving food. This also makes them feel like a part of the organization and not just robots fulfilling roles.
Hire a CPA today!
Motivating your servers using these strategies can help bring revenue. However, handling restaurant accounting and finances can be tough. Hire a restaurant CPA today!
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