“The briefing” is an information session that must be performed every shift, 15 minutes before opening for business. It is important that it is always at the same place, at the same time. Emphasize the importance of everyone being on time and attending every meeting.

During your 15 minute briefing, you must always use five minutes to go over service standards and encourage team members to ask questions of the group regarding service and food and drink knowledge.

Let’s look at the process of a well executed briefing.

• Outlining what you want to achieve.

• Informing staff of what is happening in and outside of the business.

• Motivate.

• Delegate.

• Appearance.

• Food testing, drink testing.

• Service standards.

Now that you know what you want from it, you need to organize yourself.

• Start on time.

• Ensure that everybody is present.

• Inform your staff about specials and any VIP customers. Have the chef and the sommelier involved to sample the specials

• Inform your staff of “86” items, (what is not in stock)

• Do the 5 minute training standards. Example: “how to take an order.”

• Before closing, provide staff with constructive feedback on the previous shift

• Always set a goal for the evening for the team to achieve. Example: could be a competition to sell the most or a common goal, like reaching the highest numbers of covers ever.

• Ask the staff if someone can add something constructive to the briefing.

• Always start with a positive tone and command that your staff listen to you. Your body language is very important, as is the tone of your voice. Practice if you need to.