Restaurant operators are so busy in their day-to-day that it’s easy to focus on the finer details and lose sight of the big picture. With all the things that need to be done, from scheduling to ordering to managing operations and beyond, it can be tough to stay on top of some of the important success factors of your business.
The customer experience
Do you know what it’s like to visit your restaurant as a customer? Most managers don’t get the chance to see operations from the outside, of course, but there’s value in experiencing your restaurant to get perspective on what you’re doing well and where there may be opportunities to improve. Investing in formal mystery shopping or even sending friends or colleagues to try your restaurant can help you learn valuable insight about your business, so you can make your customer experience the best it can be.
Getting to see the customer’s first impression, quality of service, range of menu, drive-thru experience, LTO appeal, staff training and more as an outsider can provide the perspective you need to better get to know your restaurant and the customer experience.
Your staff
Your team is the heart of your restaurant, but being busy can make it hard to connect and learn more about what they need. Schedule regular one-on-one sit-downs with all staff to determine whether they are happy, what motivates them, and how you can improve the staff experience and increase retention. Set an agenda with topics like scheduling, training, advancement, recognition, and company culture to get real-time insight into your staff’s mindset and where you may be able to improve.
The benefit of conducting regular meetings and staying on track is that they don’t have to be time-consuming, just a quick check-in to make sure everything is running as it should be, address any relevant concerns, and offer praise wherever you can.
Getting to know your restaurant better helps you improve operations, enhance guest experiences, better measure your successes, and build connections with your customers and your team. Even with everything you do, taking the time to study your restaurant will help you save money and build the bottom line.
