For any bar owner or manager, one of the hardest things they have to do is keep their staff engaged and motivated towards a common goal.
This is especially true during times of turmoil, which might include a string of poor Yelp reviews or just a general downswing in overall popularity. Whatever the case may be, it can have a devastating effect on the mood of the bar staff.
“Once that happens, it can be very difficult to reengage the staff,” said Breakthru Beverage Development Specialist Alex Alfonso.
Alfonso is a veteran of the hospitality industry, and throughout his career, has employed a variety of techniques to reenergize his staff. We asked him to explain these techniques that could help you with your own staff.
1) Menu Creation is a Team Effort
Alex Alfonso: Many bar managers want to be the only ones with creative control. They want all the drinks and menu options to be their own creation. I’d recommend putting together some staff cocktails. Engaging your staff to guide the creative direction of your menu sparks a renewed interest among your employees.
2) Partner with Other Bars
Try visiting another bar or restaurant and discuss what you like and dislike about how they run their operation. Many bars welcome guest shifts from brand ambassadors, but more and more bars are creating cross-promotion events by having whole staff swaps for an evening. Introducing this concept during an “Industry Night” would be a good way for a staff to serve new guests, learn some tricks and come back excited to share what they learned.
3) Bring in an Acting Coach
This one’s a bit out there, but it works. I’ve taken staffs to visit an improv group to bring them out of their shells and have some fun. It’s a great way to poke fun at all the clichés that exist in the cocktail world. Having your staff engage in acting classes is a great way for them to learn that bartending is a stage and they should be putting on a performance.
4) Staff Trainings
Most cocktail bars get many visits from distributors, suppliers and brand ambassadors, but some places do not get such visits. If you don’t, try setting up some time to get these people into your business and conduct staff trainings.
5) Hit the Books
Investing in bartending books is a great resource for your staff. I’ve had people take a book home and come back to work with new ideas for drinks we can incorporate into our regular menu or feature board.
6) Workin’ Out the Stress
Many years ago, I put up a boxing heavy bag in the back of the restaurant. Sometimes, a staff member could go blow off some steam and put on the gloves and work the bag for a little bit. It’s a nice stress reliever, as well as a good workout. Bartending is supposed to be fun, so don’t stress too much!