Incentives

This is what is so great about restaurants. INCENTIVES!

Showing up to work is an incentive in itself! You clock in and POOF! You are making money! As a server or bartender every table you serve and take care of gives you a tip at the end of their visit! Another incentive! Making their experience warm and memorable helps you make money!

Make every effort to provide great customer service. Ask your guests questions about what they like and suggest food and drinks to cater to their wants. This works in your favor and works to make the restaurant you work at more successful. See yourself as a conduit to the success of the place you work. Your attitude, enthusiasm and skill helps the restaurant stay profitable and more important talked about to other guests.

Guests loved being catered to. They love to tell their friends and family about their experience making more guests want to visit. Your attitude is a huge part in all of this; especially when things DON’T go as smoothly as you (or they) like. Fixing a problem or mistake in a friendly manner is a great way to show off your professional attitude and kinship to take care of EVERY guest you wait on. Admit an error or fix a food problem if the guest is not happy. These little tips will help the guest feel heard, and ultimately help YOU MAKE MONEY!

Unlike other jobs you clock in and clock out of, restaurants give you opportunities to talk to people, learn about life, make mistakes and fix them, and get to know what people want. These are all incentives to do a great job and take care of every guest which will ultimately benefit you. Your attitude, professionalism and GRACE will bring people back to visit.

Even if you make a few mistakes. HOW YOU HANDLE IT is the important factor. It’s impossible to avoid mistakes, errors and sometimes deliver food the guests don’t necessarily like. If this happens, make it right! Take their plate, or their drink and get them something else. Explain to your manager that your guest is not happy and wants something else. And ALWAYS apologize to your guests! It’s the restaurant business!

The benefits of incentives like tips, and socializing far outweigh the negatives of having a long night or making mistakes. Incentives like tips help to make up for the many plates you may have spinning in the air at once.

Remember, restaurant work is not an EASY JOB but it’s certainly rewarding. Having incentives to make your time in restaurants fun and exciting can drive you to be a better server, and better employee.

Incentives are used by management sometimes to get you to “UP YOUR GAME”. Make it fun when management challenges you to “Sell the Fresh Fish” or new bottles of wine just listed on the menu. Usually there are INCENTIVES here too, even when its just bragging rights that you won or came close when your boss sees your sales slip. These ideas should excite you to ENJOY WHAT YOU DO! Otherwise, why are you doing this?

If you truly hate it at times, try to look back on why you work as a service industry professional. Be grateful that every shift is different and you have INCENTIVES to help you get through your week. Great restaurant service is becoming rare which gives YOU the opportunity to Stand out! Have fun and think of ALL THE INCENTIVES you have to make it fun and PROFITABLE for you AND THE RESTAURANT YOU ARE PROUD TO WORK FOR!!

Make your own incentives like trying to suggestive sell a new cocktail or appetizer for Every table. If someone asks for a vodka soda, upsell a higher priced option. This increases your sales, and most people appreciate your suggestions and opinions. It’s easy, really. Try it next time you work.