It’s been said that the only difference between a dream and goal is a deadline. It’s true – what gets measured, gets done, so setting a timeframe for achieving a goal is a good place to start. When you’re designing restaurant employee training, create SMART goals, or goals that are:
- Specific
- Measurable
- Attainable
- Realistic
- Timely
The Impact of Restaurant Employee Training
Each of your restaurant employee training topics – or courses – should have learning objectives. Learning objectives finish the sentence, “When employees complete this course, they will be able to…” Course-level objectives should be SMART and focused on filling a skills gap. The collective impact of achieving your training goals touches every aspect of your business. Here are a few to focus on:
Training engages employees. Your tipped employees have their own motivation to succeed, but you still have a role to play in keeping employees engaged. Effective restaurant training programs create excitement and motivation throughout your staff.
Training protects your business. There’s training you want to do, and then there’s training you have to do. You can’t afford not to train your employees compliance topics such as safety, food safety, harassment, alcohol sales, and PCI compliance. Your compliance training program is critical to protecting your guests, your employees, and yourself.
Training improves productivity. Before restaurant employees can do something efficiently, they have to know how to do it effectively. Your overall training goals must incrementally build an employee’s skill level on any given task. Follow the Chinese proverb that says, “I hear and I forget, I see and I remember, I do and I understand.”
Training decreases turnover. Most restaurant managers put staffing issues at the top of their list of challenges, and today’s labor market is amplifying the issue. When employees are cross trained, managers can fill holes in a schedule more effectively and seasoned employees can bring newbies up to speed more quickly.
Training improves guest loyalty. The most important of all restaurant employee training goals is to improve guest loyalty. Guest service training provides employees with the skills and knowledge they need to deliver exceptional service and increase check averages.
Get Started on Your Restaurant Employee Training Goals Today
The Service & Sales Excellence Waitstaff Training Series is based on Service That Sells!, a restaurant training philosophy developed by restaurant owners for restaurant owners. Click here to learn more.
