You need to personally evaluate your restaurant on a regular basis. In order to really determine how you can improve, ask your employees. The entry-level Employee can provide you with accurate answers on how your restaurant can improve its performance to the guests. To really motivate your employees to suggest ways that you can improve the guest's dining experience is to recognize and reward them for their suggestions.

Ask the employees, "What would allow you to perform your job better? ... faster ... with more accuracy ... with less waste? How would you evaluate our food quality? Can our speed of service be improved? How can we improve our performance? Have you heard any complaints on our food or service?

To Exceed the Expectations of the Guests, your employees must perform extraordinary service on a regular basis. Employees won't strive to Exceed the Expectations of Guests simply because you tell them to. You need to show them what it takes to Exceed the Expectations of the Guests. "Exceeding Expectations" should be illustrated in every restaurant marketing training session.

It is suggested that every New Employee be given "Dinner For Two" at your restaurant so they can experience first-hand what "WOW, Exceptional Service!" really is. I would also recommend that the individual that is going to train the New Employee, after the Manager does the initial training, be assigned as their Server. The New Employee will base his opinion of "WOW, Exceptional Service!" upon this dining experience. Once they've experienced it, it is easier to give.

Think about it. Is there any better way to train a new person? Do you have Employees that can "dazzle" this New Employee? If you want to set the proper example, shouldn't this be the finest meal that the Employee has ever eaten? Is this New Employee going to be aware of your high standards for Employee Performance?

If you are going to expect this Employee to provide Extraordinary Service, this dining experience must set the example for them to follow and to pattern their performance after it.

This must be a "performance" the New Employee would want to follow. After this dinner, they should be excited and motivated. They should be anxious to start and be proud to be part of this Service Team, as well as, part of the Restaurant Team.

The New Employee should be required to fill out a very detailed "Guest Satisfaction Survey" outlining the outstanding features of their dining experience, as well as, suggestions for improvement. This is restaurant marketing at its best!