How to Make Your Managers Accountable for a Successful Restaurant
Why should make your managers accountable? When your management team knows what the job is, how to do it and how well you want it done… you have a management team that gets things done, meets expectations and ultimately makes you money and makes you happy.
So how do you get that for your restaurant? It starts with:
A job description that clearly states what the job is, how to do it and how well you want it done.
A training system that ensures that they learn it so clearly when going through training, that they can do it on their own without supervision or help after training is complete.
A restaurant budget that gives management a target to shoot for and gives them a road map to what systems need to be put into place to achieve those numbers.
A weekly/monthly budget variance report comparing budget to actual numbers giving management a clear financial report card that will guide them on to what systems need to be reviewed and what new systems need to be put in place.
Detailed checklists in every position! These are the foundation to clearly defining expectations in EVERY position in the restaurant. This allows both management and staff to do exactly what’s expected without any conflict. Because there is no such thing as common sense. You have to tell them exactly what needs to be done and how to do it.
Changing how YOU the owner or GM looks at accountability. Instead of answerability, look at it as an opportunity to coach, to becoming a partner in your management team’s success, to becoming a trainer, not just a parent who only scolds their children to teach them lessons.
Not just taking a manager’s word that they accomplished a task or did what you asked them to do, rather understanding that your home state is now the State of Missouri – “The Show Me State!” Instead of accepting the answer of yes it was done, say “great, show me.” Now you put yourself in a position to see that is was done and if not — or not done to your standards — gives you the opportunity to coach for success.
When you make it clear to your team that change is a good thing, that the little details matter, that being clear on expectations is the norm, they will no longer think accountability is a bad thing. Your team will no longer see accountability as something that is dreadful and difficult. This is a shift in company culture – you’re going to shift from answerability to providing opportunities. And the end opportunity for you is to coach your way to both financial and personal success!
If you want to learn more about how to make your managers accountable, read our free special report, Breaking Away from the Insanity: How to easily take control of your restaurant and make more money. Download it here. Be sure to visit our YouTube channel for more helpful restaurant business management video tips.
