As a manager, you’re responsible for how well your restaurant runs. Running your restaurant efficiently often comes down to the equipment you have and how well-trained your staff is. Most managers know this and pour lots of hours into training their staff in hard restaurant skills that workers need daily. However, soft skills are also an important part of working in the restaurant industry, as well as any industry, and as a manager, it’s your job to train these soft skills as well. Keep reading to learn about three soft skills your restaurant staff needs to have.
Communication Skills
If you look at a list of important soft skills from any industry, communication is almost always at the top. While other hard and soft skills are important, communication keeps the world going. Your restaurant staff needs to know how to effectively communicate with each other, with you and other members of the leadership team, and with customers.
Communication is often broken down into written and oral communication. Writing clearly and speaking well are skills that everyone should have, especially in a fast-paced industry like restaurants. However, nonverbal communication like body language is also important, since the restaurant industry works in person. Training your staff members in written, oral, and nonverbal communication is a great way to ensure they work efficiently and effectively throughout their shifts.
Cultural Sensitivity Skills
Another important soft skill for everyone in the restaurant and food industry to have is cultural sensitivity. Food brings people together and is one of the most important parts of any culture. Taking the time to learn about the importance of food in other cultures as well as how to interact with people of various cultures will help your staff communicate well with any guest who walks through the door.
Cultural sensitivity skills will also help you maintain a cohesive, diverse team. When team members know that their backgrounds and cultures are respected and valued by their teammates, they’ll feel more comfortable and work together better as a team. Take the time to invest in cultural sensitivity training for yourself and your staff and watch how everyone flourishes.
Problem-Solving Skills
Everyone knows that the restaurant industry is a fast-paced environment, which means if a problem pops up, someone needs to deal with it quickly and effectively. As the manager, you’re probably the one in charge of solving problems. While it’s fine for your restaurant to stay that way, you probably don’t want to stay in charge of every problem that pops up throughout a shift. That means you need to help your team develop problem-solving skills.
Problem-solving skills come down to adaptability and quick thinking. Your staff needs to know how to think on their feet so they can solve problems as they occur, especially with guests. Teach them how you respond to critical situations and train them as to what the best policies are. That way, they can handle problems themselves and only come to you if a problem is beyond them.
Communication, cultural sensitivity, and problem-solving skills are three soft skills your restaurant staff needs to have. As their manager, it’s your job to train and teach them through these skills and encourage them to continue to develop them. As your staff develops these skills, your restaurant will run smoother and better than ever before.
