Your staff is the face of your entire operation. The food may be delicious, and the atmosphere fantastic, but without excellent service and a smiling face, your business could really suffer. Training your staff well will keep your customers loyal, and likely, bring in more business from the buzz.

To ensure excellent service and repeat business, training is more important now than ever. Not only will a friendly staff differentiate you from your competition, it will influence customers to spend more money, which in turn motivates and rewards wait staff. Furthermore, you can increase employee satisfaction with reduced or free employee meals. Your employees are feeling the economic pinch too, and they’ll be able to sell your menu better by sampling it.

Training your staff to recommend specials and upsell will increase check averages. Suggest these “5 Tips to Higher Tips” from Monkeydish.com to your servers:

1. Learn the names of your guests, especially regulars.
2. Personalize the guest check with a thank you and your name.
3. Perfect plate placement, taking an extra second to center the entrée.
4. Make eye contact with guests and be sure to never interrupt their conversations.
5. Smile—it shows the guest you’re interested in delivering a great dining experience.

Find more great tips for your staff on waiter-training.com. Your servers will appreciate the great tips, and you’ll surely appreciate the happier customers.

Source: Perdue Foodservice