A number of skills are important for food and beverage managers. One needs a number of skills starting from leadership, problem solving, communication and many more.
- Leadership
Strong leadership skills and the ability to foster a team-oriented environment can help reduce one of the most prominent problems restaurants face: high turnover. According to Gallup, an engaged team reduces revenue by 24% in high-revenue industries.⁵
An engaged manager who leads by example and listens to their team’s needs while giving clear direction can help keep staff happy and active.
- Communications
Clear communication is an essential part of being an effective leader. According to research conducted by the International Conference on Arts, Behavioral Sciences and Economics:
This is true of any industry. Clear communication is essential in restaurants, where the fast pace and high-stress levels.
- Problem-solving and conflict management
Speaking of high-stress levels, problem-solving and conflict management skills play an essential role in the position of the restaurant manager. In a white paper, consulting firm Arbinger Institute estimates that each conflict costs an organization approximately $255,000 in lost time, lost productivity, poor decision-making, and even attrition⁷.
If you can communicate clearly and create a team spirit, you will likely reduce the number of conflicts in your restaurant. But a few are sure to pop up, either between staff members or between staff and customers.
She keeps a cool head, listens to both parties, and negotiates a fair solution. But resolving issues between staff and customers is only part of the job.
You will also be called upon to resolve issues such as supply or food shortages, last-minute employee calls, or (God forbid) emergency medical situations. A restaurant manager needs to think things through and take the proper steps to solve the problem quickly.
- Positive Attitude
It is also essential for restaurant managers to maintain a positive outlook on their work. In his book, The Positive Leader, former Microsoft Europe President Jan Mühlfeit highlights the power of positive psychology in motivating a team.
Put, an optimistic, supportive boss prepares happy, engaged workers. And happy workers are the basis of business success.
Mühlfeit cites several studies that illustrate the effects of a positive attitude on overall business success, including a 2014 study by researchers at the University of Warwick in the UK. They found a 12% productivity spike among satisfied workers and a 10% lag among dissatisfied workers.
Focusing on the positive, especially during stressful times (which are common in restaurants), will help inspire and motivate happy staff, reduce turnover and increase your restaurant’s bottom line.
- Attention to detail
From budgets to schedules to table settings, there are many small but essential details that restaurant managers need to track. No manager can keep everything straight all the time.
It is essential to practice analyzing situations and paying attention to details. And, of course, some apps and programs can help you stay organized, from time-tracking apps to budgeting and inventory apps.
The important thing is to stay organized, to prevent all these details from slipping through the cracks.
- Flexibility
Now imagine having everything we mentioned above – budgeting, conflict resolution, staff, and inventory tracking – thrown at you in one team. To be a good restaurant manager, flexibility and multi-task are essential.
It’s always good to have a plan for each shift. For your breakfast shift, for example, you can open and count the cash drawers, make sure everything is clean and in place for the day, and take care of some payroll work. Just keep in mind that problems and questions will upset this established plan.
Being able to shift gears quickly will help you handle whatever is thrown at you.
- On-the-Job Training
When you look at job sites, many entries don’t list a college degree as a job requirement or a requirement. Something preferred rather than required.
Instead, many restaurants are looking for candidates who have experience in the restaurant business, whether as servers, bartenders, assistant managers, hosts, or a bit of everything.
They want people who have been in the trenches, so to speak, who have a proven track record of interacting with customers and solving problems in a high-stress environment.
- Formal education
That said, some restaurants are looking for a candidate with a college degree. According to CareerBuilder, the most common degrees are business administration or management, culinary arts, accounting, or hotel administration or management. Schools also offer degrees in food service management.
While some more specialty or upscale restaurants may require a degree, most view candidates with a college education as advantageous. Various institutions provide food and beverage management courses in India, from which the Krystal school of excellence is one of the best. To know more about what the companies offer you can visit the website.
- Certificate programs and MOOCs
Do you want to develop your skills but don’t want to spend a lot of money on higher education? There are certificates and even Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) that can help you do just that. Colleges that offer related degrees may also offer certificate programs, which take less time and money.
Then there are MOOCs. Often free, these are online courses from reputable colleges and institutions worldwide. For example, Coursera, which offers courses in everything from art history to economics, provides a complementary food and beverage management⁹.
- Hire, train, and supervise staff
According to the Nation’s Restaurant News, the average hourly turnover rate for food service employees is 155%. So much of a restaurant manager’s time is spent finding talented candidates who are a good fit. for customers, concept, and team. They will hire staff for the front of the house and, depending on the type of restaurant, the back of the house.
Conclusion
They are also responsible for staff scheduling, filling in gaps when team members are sick or no-shows, managing payroll, resolving employee disputes and other issues, and fostering a positive and team-oriented work environment.
Restaurant managers must manage time and competing priorities and have excellent leadership and interpersonal skills to excel truly.
