With over 20 years of experience guiding all types of dining establishments, I’ve seen firsthand how strong leadership transforms average restaurants into thriving businesses. My specialty as a FocalPoint coach is equipping leaders of Little Rock’s vibrant and diverse restaurant scene with the skills they need to motivate their staff, delight customers and consistently achieve their financial goals.
Whether you’re a seasoned owner of multiple restaurants or you’ve recently opened your first cafe, leadership training tailored to your organization’s specific needs is essential for growth. As the backbone supporting your team, you set the tone and culture while directly impacting the guest experience through the environment you create. Let’s explore some field-tested coaching solutions to amplify your vision.
Cultivating an Empowered Team
I mentor leaders on shifting team dynamics from hierarchy to partnership. By decentralizing power and involving staff at all levels in goal setting and decision making, you increase buy-in while cultivating loyal, invested employees. Through workshops and one-on-one coaching, I can help you implement self-managed teams who collaborate across roles under your forward-thinking guidance.
When your crew feels trusted and supported, you unlock their full talents and capacity for outstanding service. Whether serving 200 covers on a Saturday night or innovating new menu items and promotions, an empowered team is key to smooth operations and delighted guests.
Developing Strong Communication Channels
Clear, consistent communication provides clarity and cohesion even during stressed moments of service. I coach restaurateurs on speaking openly and positively while actively listening to feedback without judgement. By role modeling transparent communication and welcoming all voices, you foster connection.
With streamlined channels between front and back of house, servers can alert kitchen staff in real time to replenish popular dishes. Cooks can inform servers of modified ticket times to set accurate guest expectations. Through open dialogue, staff self-identify operational improvements while you provide the supportive leadership framework to implement them.
Leading by Serving Alongside Your Team
While necessary, traditional hierarchical restaurant management tends to create distance and mistrust between leadership and staff. I guide owners and managers to build connection through leading by serving alongside your crew – expedite tickets during the rush or jump behind the bar when a bartender calls in sick.
By showing you are all in this together through shared experiences in the trenches, you build camaraderie and empathy while earning deep respect. My actionable coaching provides you with servant leadership principles to model so your staff feels cared for, listened to and invested in collective success. This level of trust and support empowers optimal performance.
Amplify Your Strengths as a Transformational Leader
Whether enhancing communication, decentralizing authority or literally working alongside your team, research shows leading with compassion and vulnerability builds loyalty while driving growth. Through assessments identifying your natural strengths, I create a customized coaching plan to develop your best leadership qualities.
My actionable, restaurant-specific coaching guides you to motivate staff, delight guests and consistently achieve your business goals through values-based, transformational leadership. Let’s meet to discuss how amplifying your innate talents and abilities can help build a collaborative, resilient team poised to turn challenges into opportunities.
