5 Tips for Training Waiters
Waiters make up a crucial part of the workforce in the hospitality industry. They are not only the servers to the people in your restaurant but also your ambassadors to your customers. They are the face and representatives of all the good and bad in your eating establishment.
As such, it makes sense to train servers to accustom them on how things get done correctly. To ensure we get you covered, we have developed five tips for training waiters on how to act and handle customers. Here is what to know.
Contents
1. Establish a Waiter and Restaurant Training Manual
A training manual is a surefire way to ensure that all servers know the rules and instructions per your establishment. Every waiter training manual should establish basic codes and principles for all matters within the particular setting. The manual can touch on areas such as
- Dress code regulations.
- Etiquette
- Up-selling instructions
- Order and serving rules
2. Have an Orientation Program
It is also a good idea for a restaurant owner to have an orientation program whenever hiring new waiters. An orientation program is a crucial training opportunity for each new server since they learn about the restaurant’s daily running. In addition, the program also gives a brief history of the restaurant by providing relevant background information on how the establishment came to be.
3. Build a Server-Learner Program
The best and most experienced servers can also be a great learning point for new employees in your lineup. The idea here is to have new waiters shadow the best ones and learn the ropes of the day-to-day operations. This shadowing tactic is more of an apprentice leadership where the shadowing waiters train in different areas through an already working employee.
4. Ensure an Understanding of the Menu
Understanding the menu for servers goes a long way in establishing the proper skills for up-selling. Remember, once waiters understand and taste what they serve, they have a better chance of offering the appropriate suggestions to customers. Thus, an excellent way to train waiters is to familiarize them with the food items on the menu. A menu-tasting program would be ideal for introducing current or new foods before serving customers. Such a move makes waiters aware of what they are serving, plus being ready for customer questions.
5. Establish Regular Training
Restaurant training is not a one-off opportunity but rather a routine program. Keep in mind there are new challenges each day, and you must have servers adapt to the changing scenery. Therefore, it pays to ensure regular training on ordering, serving, restaurant menus, and even etiquette. However, keep your waiters manageable with enough restaurant training, as it can be difficult for everyone to keep up.
Training a waiter is far better than facing the consequence of an incompetent employee. And now that you are set with the restaurant training tips necessary from us at myBites.io, you can try them out and see the results. Just make sure your training also encompasses the ideas of your employees.
Thanks For Reading
More Read on Forbes Magazine
