Acing your Pre-Shift Meetings Every Day
In the world of bars and restaurants the pre-shift meeting lacks the respect it deserves from managers, and as a result there are many locations that don’t engage in one everyday. These meeting are an excellent way for you to bing your team together and give them all the tool they need for their day -and thus, your day- to run smoothly.
A pre-shift should involve you briefing your staff on the day ahead, directing their attention to anything specific you want them to do throughout the day, and also inspiring them to work well for you and your restaurant.
The Briefing
Every day is different in the restaurant world and whether it be a new special from the kitchen, an 86’ed item or an event that is taking place later that day, everyone needs to be in the know; and they’ll also feel better for being in the know. If your staff are involved in what goes on in your restaurant they are more inclined to be prouder of where they work and thus care about how they represent you and your location.
Directing the Troops
As chief delegator of your establishment it’s up to you to ensure that the tasks you want done are getting done. There’s no better time to communicate these tasks than during a pre-shift meeting, that way everyone knows what has to be done and everyone knows what everyone else is also doing. Whether it be side work or some special set up required for a large lunch-time booking, use your pre-shift meeting to tell your staff what you expect of them today.
Inspire Your People
Before you let them out onto the floor give your staff something to rouse them to do some good on the day ahead. Maybe you could praise a staff member who was recently mentioned in an online review, or tell them something good about themselves and their work. Making your employees feel good about themselves is what you’re there to do, to instil confidence and happiness in them so they can go into the day ahead unimpeded by the burdens of self doubt and misery.
Also ask your employees if there are any questions they would like to ask. These can range from something about one of the specials to them airing grievances. Either way, answering these questions, addressing the issues raised, and in the process, showing your staff that you are there for them as much as you need them to be there for you, will show your employees that you care. This can inspire your staff to do your bidding and represent you with pride on your restaurant floor.
Time Management
Pre-shift meetings happen after everyone has finished setting up their station or has changed over from the shift before. This can sometimes leave you with little time to complete your pre-shift and you may feel rushed. One of the best counter measures to this is to write everything down. If you have a written checklist of what you’re covering you can ensure that, no matter how short the meeting, your guys will always be properly informed and prepared for the day ahead.
The importance of the pre-shift meeting as a tool to bring everyone onto the same page is crucial in an environment where things change on a day-to-day basis. If you’re not currently undertaking serious pre-shift meetings then hopefully this article encourages you to do so. You might not get it perfect the first time, but you’ll quickly notice how you can time the meetings correctly, and then begin seeing the positive benefit they have on your staff, their work ethic, and the overall work environment in your establishment.
