Pre-Shift Suggestions by Jim Sullivan

Pre-Shift Suggestions by

Jim Sullivan

One meeting, one issue. A common mistake managers make is trying to cover too many issues in a pre-shift meeting. What happens with multiple objectives is that the team members learn “everything and nothing”. John Keener from The Charleston Crab House concurs: “We’ve found that the key to staging successful pre-shift meetings is stay focused on one objective two maximum for each shift. Otherwise, the team tends to lose focus and you end up watering-down the shift’s potential.” Pick one focus area to emphasize and stick to it: quick tableside greeting, no trash on floors, upselling desserts, clean aprons, every plate presentation perfect, etc. This doesn’t mean you can’t discuss other topics, just choose one or two as your focal points so that everyone can remember the goal and you can collectively measure the success. Tomorrow, build on the experience with another topic. You’ve got time after all. If you’re open for lunch and dinner everyday you have 729 more pre-meal meetings this next year in which to emphasize another topic.

K.I.S.S.

Rule number two: keep it short and sweet. I’ve seen too many managers ramble off on ten minute monologues (with gusts up to fifteen) in front of antsy, bored, or distracted servers or cooks right before a busy shift. No pre-shift meeting should last longer than five minutes in my opinion. Set an egg timer and when the bell rings, the crew should be allowed to walk away. Less is more. Think of these gettogethers as pre-shift “moments”, (like a quarterback before a big play) not meetings, if it helps you better focus on the desired result.

Dialogues, not Monologues.

Interactivity makes any meeting more lively and effective. Remember the 20/80 rule: managers should speak for 20% of the meeting, crew should speak for 80% of the meeting. In other words, briefly present the objective and opportunities for the shift, assess the key concerns from previous shifts, and then ask team members to repeat and review those focal points.

Teach everyone something new each shift.

The pre-meal meeting may be one of the best times to teach your team together, but don’t forget to find opportunities throughout the shift to share your expertise with every crew member. As Golden Corral CEO Ted Fowler says, “Don’t just ‘reach and hire’…teach and inspire.”

Never set individual sales goals for the staff.

If for instance you say “Joan, I want you to sell 8 appetizers this shift.” Well, those are your goals, not hers. Let servers set their own goals at pre-meal sessions. You’ll be surprised how often those goals will be higher than what you would have set.

Generate electricity.

Remember that pre-meal meetings are opportunities to teach, inspire and pump up energy levels of your kitchen and dining room teams before “the big game.” Your enthusiasm for both teaching and having fun learning together will drive the shift. Attention goes where energy flows.