Effective Restaurant Training Techniques – Start Your Training Program Today

I have seen different types of training techniques for restaurant staff. Some restaurants send new employees to their corporate training school; others hire experienced staff thinking they already know how to work in that position. I believe that all new staff members should receive quality training regardless of their previous experience.

Every role in a restaurant is important to the success of the restaurant!

Management must be able to work in each position. Your knowledge of each job is vital. Managers must take on those other roles to maintain customer service. Some reasons could be if there is a call or sales are higher than projected.

If people tell you that running a restaurant is easy, they are dead wrong. In fact, it is the most difficult position in the restaurant. Running a restaurant is challenging; management must be able to multitask, give direction, and follow through on that direction. Managers must be able to retain vast amounts of information and make quick decisions and be ready to fill any role.

Managers are not born to run a restaurant; They grow in that position. The same goes for the rest of the staff. Train the management staff, then the trainers. Management will supervise the trainers as they train the rest of the staff.

The most effective restaurant training techniques are:

• Show-Do-Review: The trainer shows the staff member how to do the task. The trainer then observes the trainee actually performing the task. Once completed, they review the task together and the trainer provides feedback to the new employee. The Show-Do-Check technique is especially effective for learning recipes, cooking tasks, cleaning tasks, or service tasks.
• The memory game: Once the new hire has some understanding of their new job, the trainer walks the staff member through and helps them remember the different key components of the job. Periodically, the trainer will ask the student a question. If the student does not answer the question correctly, the trainer will provide the answer. The trainer will continuously repeat the question throughout the day or night until the student answers it correctly. The purpose of the exercise is to get the staff member to retain the information. The memory game can be used to remember important food time and temperature, menu and recipe knowledge, service steps, or even manager responsibilities.
• Role playing game: Role-playing is one of the most effective training techniques to use in creating top-tier artists. Existing staff members and new hires experience real life situations and “learn by doing”. Students will experience “real life” situations in a simulated and controlled environment. This technique allows the trainer to assess the learner’s strengths and areas for improvement. This also helps develop a plan of action so that the student can overcome any obstacles to their success. “Practice makes perfect”. This technique allows employees to see different perspectives, build trust, and form good habits. The trainer will observe the role play and correct staff members periodically to ensure they are on the right track. Role play is an excellent technique for service staff and managers to learn the proper way to handle customer questions or complaints, how to approach a table, and the steps of service.
• Shading: The student follows the trainer, and the trainer shows the student the correct procedures to complete the assigned task. The trainer should ask open questions in reference to the task. Once the trainee feels more comfortable, the trainer will follow the employee. Communication between staff members is crucial in the development of trainees. Tracking could be used for almost any role, especially in the first and last days of training.

Once the trainer assesses the staff member and determines that the employee is proficient in that position, then that person is ready to work independently.

Management must observe or participate in the training process to ensure that employees receive quality training. The general manager/owner supervises the managers. The general manager/owner may have the final say on whether a new hire is ready to go it alone.

Use whatever tools are available to help achieve the training objectives. During the training process, the use of feedback or evaluation forms can help track the quality of the training. Documenting the progress of the training and reviewing it with the employee will help you understand their expectations. It also gives you a paper record of that particular employee’s training.

Using a variety of training techniques for your restaurant is helpful in getting all of your staff on the same page. It’s also more interesting than sitting down with someone and reading a scripted presentation. It will help you retain staff, because too many people are forced to work without proper training and get frustrated and quit. Having a training program that is easy and effective is important to the success of your restaurant.