Restaurant Employee Management: How to Reduce Holiday Stress

Restaurant employee management is a large undertaking, especially during the busy holiday season with packed dining rooms, fully booked reservations, and an ever-busy kitchen! As an owner or manager, you are familiar with the holiday stresses on your entire team of restaurant employees. The pressure to deliver impeccable service during this high-demand period can be overwhelming. How do you keep your staff from feeling in the weeds during the holidays? With some preparation and stress management techniques, navigating the holiday rush with private dining, events, and large groups – can transform from chaotic to calm. Here’s how:

Using Tripleseat to Your Advantage

• Streamlined Event Management: One of the venues’ major stressors and revenue boosters during the holiday season is handling private event bookings. Tripleseat’s event management software is specifically designed to make this process smooth. Using Tripleseat to manage your leads and events, you can easily view available dates, manage multiple bookings, communicate with clients directly, and even take deposits and payments online. This minimizes the risk of double-booking and ensures that every event detail is clearly outlined.
• Centralized Communication: Clear communication is one of the secrets to stress-free restaurant employee management. Tripleseat’s integrated communication platform ensures all correspondence with event clients and staff is stored in one place. No more frantic searching through emails and post-it notes or missing crucial information. Everything you need is at your fingertips.
• Comprehensive Reporting: Tripleseat’s reporting allows you to track private event revenue from the past or pull future reports to ensure you’re staffing appropriately. Tripleseat’s reporting can also be used as a CRM (customer relationship management) tool, allowing you to reach out to past holiday clients to market to them for the upcoming season. Preparing for what’s to come will ensure your holiday rush runs smoothly.

General Tips for Stress Management for Restaurant Employees

• Preparation is Key: As with anything, the more you prepare, the better equipped you are to handle the rush. Update your menu in advance, ensure stock levels are maintained, and schedule staff training sessions. A well-prepared team is a confident and efficient one.
• Delegation: Remember, you don’t have to do everything yourself. Trust your team and delegate tasks. Having senior staff members oversee particular areas can free up your time to focus on bigger-picture management.
• Maintain a Work-Life Balance: We know it’s easier said than done, but while it’s a busy period, prioritizing self-care is still essential. Ensure you take breaks, spend time with loved ones, and rest adequately. You can tackle challenges with a clearer mind when well-rested and mentally refreshed.
• Stay Organized: Create a daily to-do list and prioritize tasks. A visual representation of what needs to be accomplished can help you manage your time efficiently and ensure nothing slips through the cracks.
• Feedback Loop: Encourage feedback from staff and customers. Sometimes, fresh perspectives can offer solutions to problems you might have missed. Regularly checking in with your team and addressing their concerns can create a more cohesive and supportive work environment.

From Chaos to Calm

The holiday rush is undeniably intense, but with the right private dining and event tools like Tripleseat and some proactive stress management strategies, it can be a period of success and growth for your restaurant. Embrace the challenge, rely on your team, and remember that every storm will pass, no matter how hectic. Here’s to a calm and prosperous holiday season!

Maximize Your Holiday Profit

For more tips on handling the holiday rush and preparing your venue for the holiday rush, check out our webinar, Maximizing Private Event Profits During the Holiday Season. This quick tutorial deep dives into strategies and proven techniques to boost your revenue and create memorable experiences for private dining guests during the holiday season.