Recently, we broke our single week sales record at the pizzeria. Then we broke it again the next week.
I was two states away with my family.
During the first record-breaking week, I worked 23 hours over the weekend. My food preparation manager, who was also scheduled to lead one of shifts, fell ill, so I worked most of the day on Friday and Saturday. Restaurant stuff happens.
However, the next week, I left early Thursday morning with my wife and four children. The pizzeria proceeded to break the prior week's record.
How does this happen?
I'm aware there are numerous influences at any given moment. However, I want to highlight two important keys that help cultivate the soil:
- A Clear System
Everyone on the team knows the expectations. Every one of my direct reports understands the flow of the restaurant. The system is clear and clarity is kindness.
For some on the team, this is knowing what is expected of them on every shift, including how to communicate with management.
For others, such as management, this means they understand my restaurant system. This way they understand when operations are running smooth and how to resolve any issues that may come up.
- Duplicated Power
It's not enough to give someone a title, a key, or preferential treatment. Delegation isn't always enough, either (although delegation is important). You need to duplicate your power in others.
In other words, you need to train your management team and key team members in how decisions are made at your restaurant so they can make decisions without you, even important decisions.
This requires letting go of always needing to be the one "in power." You don't have to be "the person" every time. Tell your team the appropriate occasions they need to get in touch with you and give them the power for everything else.
Freedom
I received one text while out of state. I simply directed my manager to the correct service provider to call and they made the call, not me. (You do have a vendors and service providers contact sheet in the office, don't you?) The service provider showed up Tuesday morning. I had forgotten all about the call!
When I returned, there were exactly three minor notes on my shift manager checklists: two personnel comments and one change recommendation for one of our daily checklists. There was nothing that required my attention while my family and I were out of state.
And we broke a sales record.
This is the feeling of freedom.