Did you know that you alone control the amount of money and how difficult or easy your shift is?
It’s hard to believe because we’ve all been taught that the restaurant business belongs to the restaurant owner and that your role is as an employee. An employee in an industry that does not have a great reputation for treating employees well by both the business owner and it’s customers.
It is extremely hard to function as an ever exuberant, constantly enthusiastic employee when it is not even your business. On top of that, you may be treated badly at any given moment by a customer and sometimes even “stiffed” over situations you have no control over.
It is extremely hard to start and run a business authentically enthusiastic especially when it is not your business.
Well guess what… if you plan to go into any other career, then those tables in your restaurant is your business!
I don’t care what business you re going into, you are going to need customers.
Whether you are studying dentistry, music, cosmetology, literature, construction, law, the arts, business … almost any field is going to require customers or contacts and do you know who people prefer to shop and buy from? People they know. Do you know who people refer? People they know.
Stop viewing your restaurant as a business you work for an see it for the incredible amount of business contacts it is providing you for your future.
Now you just need to unlock the conversational opportunities that reside outside of the “pre-scripted” waiter / customer conversations so you can start building relationships.
These opportunities are absolutely everywhere from the moment you wake up to hours later when you start getting busy in your restaurant you can be building really great relationships with people in and outside the restaurant to fill your station from the moment you begin working. These relationships are not anonymous waiter/ customer relationships. They are really great tipping, very thankful for your personal service and “touches”, know your name and can’t wait to buy your book, go see your band or play, visit your salon or refer friends to your practice kind of relationships.
These are the kind of relationships you boss wants you to create but doesn’t know how because he is so focused on his business. He knows that his customers are 60% more likely to return if they know someone or are known at the restaurant. Why do you think he has you state your name at the beginning of service? I think this is on the right track but for the most part the customer /waiter conversation is so ingrained that stating your name matter of factually merely solidifies your role in their life as only a waiter. Our goal together, me and you, is much much more. I want you to be much more to them and them to you. So much so that they can’t get angry with you if things go wrong with their order or table, your boss loves and adores you and you have a future client when you are done with school.
All this is accomplished by creating rock solid relationships and it is 10 times harder to start those relationships at the table, introducing yourself.
The best relationships start before they even get to the table so keep your eyes peeled for anything out of the ordinary in the restaurant (opportunities to take guest’s pictures, open the door, help on or off with a coat , check personally in with the hostess to discover the customer’s name, help carrying a drink, delivering items with flair…) and outside the restaurant (when buying ANYTHING in the neighborhood, introduce yourself to area business owners and employees & let them know if they refer their customers to your station early that you will “hook them up” with great tables or treats if they mention the business or business owner by name. Telling everyone where you are working while you are building your own business as an author or actor inspires people to come in, request you and tip to support your real dream. Leave business cards with your name and days that you work handwritten anywhere you can letting people know that you are really a musician but this is paying for school and if they request you ahead of time you can put together a fantastic pre-orchestrated evening or video tape special occasion birthday or anniversary dinners if the reservation is made early in the evening.) Now, the customers coming in already know you are in a band or school or working on publishing your book! They are coming in early when you are not busy! The people who referred them like you and regard you as much smarter than an average employee because you are hustling and having your customers mention their business in order to get special treatment! Every business owner in town will be sending his customers to your station! Those customers don’t know the nature of your relationship with the business owner and consequently will treat you with more respect because if they don’t it will get back to the business owner!
You have so much potential at your fingertips right now. Please don’t settle for seeing your section as someone else’s business. It is 100% yours and you didn’t have to furnish it, stock it with supplies, pay rent, heat or electric for it. It is nothing but wide open possibilities and when you win EVERYONE wins!
Do you know a restaurant owner who would like to firmly cement their customer relationships? Please refer me. I am at 1-860-248-0988 and I am changing the way employees work & see their customers. Call me to guarantee the return of 90% of your “good” customers and start getting better tips! (Feel free to share!)
LeeAnne Homseys Uncommon Restaurant Solutions 