I just can’t find good people. My employees are stealing me blind. It is hard to find someone that wants to work and once I find them, something new comes along and they are gone. Have you spoken any of these statements or have they filled your head? We are coming into the summer season, the hiring frenzy is on and going strong, but you don’t just want to hire someone, you want to hire the right one.
The only true cure to the hiring dilemma is to ensure your brand is a place that people want to work. I know I sound like a “marketer” when I say that, but when you boil down any challenges with personnel, it all comes back to the environment in which they work. It is time to go back to your roots and ensure your basics are together before you panic and start hiring just anyone for the job. First, ask yourself if you have created the right environment for your team – create your business Zen.
Here are four questions to ask yourself:
Are you living your brand? Do you beam with pride and excitement when you come into work and when people ask you about your restaurant, or do you think of all the challenges, have the weight of the world on your back and concentrate on only the negatives of your business? Environments are addictive, and people are perceptive; be sure to always have your best foot forward…they are watching. Although we all have good and bad days, we as managers and owners need to find a place to handle those stresses that is not on the floor or even in the back office; keep them out of the four walls.
Do you know your team members? I mean personally – do you take personal interest in them as individuals? A bond with you can influence their attachment to your business. People who feel attached are more loyal, more productive and are more likely to help you find more of the right people to work with you…and them.
Are you communicating with everyone in your restaurant? This is not just referring to your managers or chefs, but to everyone. Being part of the conversation at every level instills a sense of belonging and creates a culture of caring for each other, the customer and the business.
How many times to you say thank you? Not to your guests, but to your employees? Do you compliment them for a job well done even for everyday tasks? Being appreciated is a human necessity for creating a positive environment. If your current employees are not happy, finding new ‘good’ employees will be close to impossible.
A recent Harvard Business Review article, which focused on letting go of those who don’t want to be there (Zappo’s and Amazon pay people to go away), concluded with a very strong sentiment that we all can keep in mind to help find our business Zen:
Work is personal. That’s the driving force behind the truly great companies, an unshakable sense that a company’s capacity to create economic value for its customers connects directly to its ability to create a sense of meaning and camaraderie for its people at every level of the organization.
If you keep these four basic thoughts top of mind, not only will you find your business attracts good people, but your results will show it, too!
Want some great advice on how to staff your restaurant for success?
