All workplaces rely on effective communication, but it is particularly important in the hospitality industry, where staff must work well as a team, to satisfy their customers. Anyone who has seen the Disney+ drama. ‘The Bear’. will know that when communication breaks down in a restaurant kitchen, service suffers, leading to empty tables and a high turnover of staff. Restaurateurs need to ensure that team communication is a priority at all times by following a few simple rules.
Be open
It’s best if a restaurant leader is accessible to their staff at all times, having an open-door policy which makes staff comfortable to bring up any issues. Leaving your door open is the best way to know what’s going on and foster great communication with the team.
Team building
Using tools and techniques to improve operations can help simplify team communication. Whether it’s using the restaurant’s point of sale to ensure quick communication between front and back of house, or a communication and scheduling app, anything which makes it quicker and easier for messages to get where they need to be is a good thing. Some restaurants, as well as hotels and other hospitality venues, use wifi call buttons, which allow staff to quickly alert colleagues to urgent issues or simply when service is needed. These are usually waterproof, so can be used in a steamy kitchen, and they are available from suppliers like https://www.dinggly.com/products/wireless-call-buttons who offer personalised equipment.
Develop a framework
According to The Caterer regular communication is crucial if you want to make sure the whole team understands what you are trying to achieve. This is why a daily briefing is essential to catch up on any issues, get menu knowledge and prepare for that day’s service.
As well as these ideas, restaurateurs should use all-staff announcements when something needs to be communicated to the whole team and one-to-ones if it only relates to one staff member.
Poor communication in a restaurant setting can be disastrous, leading to high employee turnover and bad customer service, so taking the time to effectively communicate is extremely valuable.