You’re the Leader—Inspire!
Posted by estiator at 10 October, at 04 : 11 AM Print
MANAGING FOR SUCCESS By CONSTANTINE N. KOLITSAS Business Coach
When you get up in the morning and head to work, your mind is on the dozens of tasks ahead of you. You are thinking about the schedule and if your undependable fry cook will be late again; if the walk-in cooler was organized properly after the early morning delivery; if the plumber was able to unclog the drains so the toilets don’t back up. You are trying to get your head around the marketing meeting you have at 10:00 a.m., the interview with a bartender candidate at 11:00 a.m., and the accountant at 2:30 p.m. And in the back of your head, you’re anticipating the new demands on your time that may materialize as the day gets going. Will your delivery be short? Will you have enough servers on the shift? Will the air conditioning be able to keep up as the outside temperature tops 90 degrees?
I get it. You’ve got the weight of the world—or at least the restaurant—on your shoulders. As such, there’s no time to spend on pleases and thank yous and attaboys, never mind actively shaping the behaviors of your staff members. And here you are wrong.
The most important role we play as restaurant operators is not that of price negotiator, or disciplinarian, or financier, or marketing point man. Rather, the most important hat that we wear is that of the restaurant’s leader.
As the leader, everyone looks up to you—even those who actively dislike you. They watch what you do when you walk in and take note if you immediately grab a cup of coffee and sit down for 20 minutes or begin to walk around and survey the restaurant to ascertain that nothing is amiss. It means something to them if you greet them and ask how their day off was or if you whisk by gruffly without acknowledging their existence.
The power and influence we wield as leaders is not something we actively think about, and this is to our great detriment. When there is purpose behind everything we do, we can become increasingly effective in that role. When we go about our job without being cognizant of our position, we are sending the signal to our employees that they, too, can go about their jobs mindlessly. Conversely, working with purpose sets the tone for others. So when you verbalize to an employee what specific things they can do to perform their job with purpose (and as a result with more success), your words don’t ring hollow. Instead, they land on the intended ears with weight, or gravitas.
The power and influence we wield as leaders is not something we actively think about, to our great detriment.
It’s crucial to remember that in the world of your staff, you are the top dog. If they are to climb the career ladder, you are the top rung they aspire to someday reach. They thirst for your recognition and validation, and want to learn from you. When you validate them, it gives them a better sense of self-worth, which translates into greater confidence and ability to perform their jobs. Don’t send mixed signals. Let them know when they do something well, and correct them with compassion when they screw up. Let their mistakes become learning opportunities rather than opportunities to knock them down. Be generous with your interactions. When you temper your reprimands with kindness, you convey that you don’t hate them but, rather, are trying to help them improve. Your ability to lead, of course, is predicated on the respect your team members have for you. This, in turn, is earned by working hard and leading by example, demonstrating that you are intelligent and make great choices for the business. Be firm yet kind, uncompromising with regard to your standards yet understanding of each individual’s challenges. Care for the individuals beyond the walls of your business, but don’t let each person’s personal problems become problems for the business. Yes, it’s a tightrope, but you are in your position for a reason: You must be able to not just walk a tightrope, but dance on it and do feats of acrobatics.
Before you walk into your restaurant, flip your rear view mirror around and take a good look at yourself. Rub away the wrinkles from your own personal life. Straighten your collar. Give yourself a smile. Make sure that before you get out of your car, you see a leader staring back at you from the reflective glass.
As you go about your day, remember these things: Be presidential. Be aspirational. Be inspirational. Be a leader. After all, that’s the only way to get your people to follow.
Constantine Kolitsas is the president of CNK Consulting, a restaurant consultant and coaching business. he can be reached at 203-947-6234 or at ckolitsas@gmail.com.
