this article<\/a>.<\/p>\n\u00a0<\/p>\n
Lead By Example<\/strong><\/p>\nYou can hire the most qualified workers for the job, have state of the art technology, and still lose workplace morale if your employees are working hard and you are not.<\/em> Lead by the example you want to see. Show up to work on time, dressed presentably, and in a good mood. Your employees will notice if you spend all day on your personal phone, and they will not<\/strong> want to work hard for you\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Communication Skills Are NOT Optional.<\/strong><\/p>\nAs the shop owner, the first thing you need to do is devise and communicate a clear, concise business plan. As early on as possible, expectations must be set and you MUST ensure the employees understand. Open the door and encourage any questions they may have. Bad habits won\u2019t begin if training is done correctly from day one.<\/p>\n
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\u201cPeanut Butter and Jelly\u201d Method of Communication<\/strong><\/p>\nIf you ask ten people to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, you are going to get ten different peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Keep this in mind when communicating to your employees during training. \u201cI want a peanut butter and jelly sandwich made with creamy peanut butter and grape jelly\u201d is far clearer than \u201cI want a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Do Your Research<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\nThere are many ways of training your employees, and there\u2019s no need to shy away from using several methods. Depending on your business, there may be professionally-designed courses at your disposal, external training courses, or someone trained specifically to come to your coffee shop and train. Find out what information is available to you and design your training plans from these resources.<\/p>\n
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Delegate Tasks Based On Skill Sets<\/strong><\/p>\nMaybe Employee \u201cA\u201d excels in making drinks, where Employee \u201cB\u201d struggles. There is no shame in delegating Employee \u201cA\u201d to train in beverage preparation. Employee \u201cB\u201d may have exceptional customer service skills where Employee \u201cC\u201d lacks. Same procedure, Employee \u201cB\u201d could be the designated \u201cCustomer Service Skills Trainer.\u201d Delegate tasks to ease your<\/em> burden.<\/p>\n\u00a0<\/p>\n
Explain<\/strong><\/p>\nOnce the intricacies are settled, you can start developing your baristas\u2019 skills. Explain the importance and objective of doing their job correctly each and every time.<\/em> Customers demand consistency from a business. Have the procedure they are going to be trained in explained thoroughly by the designated trainer.<\/p>\n\u00a0<\/p>\n
Demonstrate<\/strong><\/p>\nStep by step details of how every task is done correctly <\/em>in a hands-on manner is where your employee will see exactly<\/strong> how the task is done. If the task wasn\u2019t necessarily explained well, this is where the employee will get a better grasp of what they need to do to complete their job correctly.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Observe<\/strong><\/p>\nOnce you\u2019ve explained in detail what needs to be done and demonstrated exactly how the task is done, give the barista a chance to show you how it is done. This will ensure they can properly use the equipment necessary to perform their task and also opens up the door for feedback.. Show them again if necessary, and repeat your observation.<\/p>\n
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Express Confidence In Their Success<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\nPart of your job in a managerial position is to be the accelerator in your baristas\u2019 motivation. Your main focus should be on progress rather than perfection. Care for your staff, giving positive recognition when it is deserved, and express to them their competency. If you must criticize, do so in a compliment-criticism-compliment manner of private discussion. Praise in public, scold in private.<\/p>\n
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Follow Up On A Regular Basis<\/strong><\/p>\nHaving discussions on a regular basis, whether weekly or monthly, etc, will keep everybody on the same page as far as expectations are concerned. If you need to have a discussion on below standard work, have it as early on as possible. Don\u2019t confuse a bad day with a bad employee, but if you consistently see poor behavior, privately discuss it before disciplinary action must be taken.<\/p>\n
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Cross-Train Your Baristas<\/strong><\/p>\nYour baristas should be able to do any job that needs to be done in your shop. If you have an employee that needs to take a leave of absence, quits, calls off, etc, you have to have someone to jump into another role as needed. Take the time to touch base with your baristas and cross-train them as needed. Encourage them to be flexible and take on new tasks.<\/p>\n
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Retrain As Necessary<\/strong><\/p>\nIf equipment breaks or is too old to function and needs to be replaced, you may have to retrain your baristas on the new equipment. Perhaps maybe they try to take shortcuts on perfectly functional equipment. Take a few minutes and retrain them on how to do their job properly. Hopefully bad habits won\u2019t<\/em> form, but time is of the essence when you have customers waiting.<\/p>\n\u00a0<\/p>\n
Have Your Employees Evaluate Themselves<\/strong><\/p>\nOn a scale of one to ten, have each of your employees rate themselves on the different aspects of their jobs. Initiate the discussion with them as to why they chose the ranking they did for each task. Generally, they will either rank themselves too low or too high, not usually on par with how they are truly doing. This is where you rate them yourself, coach them, and align their thoughts with reality.<\/p>\n
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Transfer Ownership<\/strong><\/p>\nIf you have motivated employees, and by all means you should, pick one or two areas and transfer the \u201cownership\u201d of that part of the business to them. Remember, you want to encourage progress, not perfection. If they are evaluated at, say, a six, what will it take for them to bring that six up to maybe an eight? Let them lead this discussion and give your input as to what you would like to see from them. Again, have follow up discussions regularly.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\nTrain Your Employees To Promote<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\nIf you have a handful of baristas that are particularly motivated and excel in many skill sets, train them to \u201ctake your job.\u201d If for some reason need to take time off of work, it will calm your mind knowing there are a few people you can have confidence in to run the shop for you. This is also a great way to prepare them to further their careers if you work for a coffee shop chain or franchise.<\/p>\n
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A great staff will be unteachable if they are unhappy. Make fair, consistent, flexible<\/em> schedules. This ensures a better work-life balance. Also ensure you are giving constructive feedback and make their progress and accomplishments known. <\/em>Support their ideas for potential improvements. At the end of the day, make sure your employees have trust in you.<\/p>\n\n\n