Top Five Mistake Servers Make (Without Knowing It) We’ve all experienced both ends of the service spectrum.  Whether or not the unfortunate experiences occurred tableside or started at the front door or were compounded by mistakes made in the kitchen we've all been there. If a server knows and practices the basics of proper service etiquette, the guest's attitude (and the server's gratuity) can be saved. Here are a few easily avoidable mistakes to share with your servers.

Number Five:  If a guest seated in your section is either an acquaintance or a regular, you may allow your service standards to be a little lax with them.  Whether you keep repeating “how crazy” the night has been in an effort to rally their sympathy, or take a few extra minutes before every approach to the table, you are forgetting they are still a guest spending the same type of currency as the rest of the people in your section.  If you do not treat them with the same impeccable service standards you should be using with every guest, you will quickly find you have lost your most reliable source of income…REGULARS.

Number Four: Using disrespectful language is another major mistake wait staff is sometimes guilty of.  We're not talking about offensive slang or curse words, but some of the most common phrases in the English language have no place in tableside conversation.  Never refer to your guests as “you guys”  and don’t get lazy with your pronunciation. “What can I  getchya’s, or “wouldya’s like” or even “howabout’s”  may leave guests questioning your level of intelligence, or worse your sobriety. 

Number Three:  Servers who work in establishments that have enough staff to dedicate shifts to “bussing” and “running” very commonly neglect those MAJOR roles as they relate to their tables.  Just because it may not be your specific job doesn’t mean you can allow empty dishes to pile up on your table.  Bussers get very, very busy …as do runners, so when you see your table's order up in the window...GET IT…run it yourself…your legs won’t break.  This way your tips won’t suffer. Plus, if they see you helping them out, they’re more apt to help you out.

Number Two: There is a reason menu developers include all types of food and beverage selections in varied  price ranges.  People have very differing tastes, and often are set in their ways. With that said, NEVER insult your guest selections.  Do not give your unsolicited opinion on that particular menu item…and DO NOT try to impart your self-appointed “beverage expertise” when they choose their wine or beer if it in any way criticizes their taste.  It IS part of your job to help pair items when a guest asks for suggestions….but it not part of your job to make recommendations based on your personal taste as it relates to those of your guests.

And the Number One Mistake Servers Make...(insert David Letterman drum roll here) Assuming that at the very LEAST they will receive a 15% tip.  May I remind you the term “tips” comes from the acronym “To Ensure Proper Service.” This gesture of gratitude from your guests is not an entitlement, but something you have to earn…something you have to work for, after all, it is your JOB.  Those who understand this concept and create their own impeccable service standards will without fail receive gratuity upwards of 20-30% every time.  It’s not a difficult concept. When guests feel the service is not at a high quality level, they may take it personally. Unsatisfied guests will make your tip suffer sometimes more than they may raise it for a pleasant experience.  At that rate, you literally can not afford to make any assumptions.  We’ve all heard what that makes of us.  

This month's Point of Profit is Creating a Hiring Gauntlet. (Second in Series) Many of our readers are familiar with our famous Menu Gauntlet. This is the same concept applied to the hiring process. Over the issues we'll explore the Seven Steps of the Hiring Gauntlet. 

Step Two: Internal Opportunities-Before looking on the outside take a look at existing staff and positions. Are there opportunities to combo-bombo (combine) jobs? Is there an opportunity to give a current employee an opportunity? Also at this juncture as part of looking inside first check on:

• Employees and associates that you and your managers have identified as potential leaders.
• Those that have an interest in working their way up the ladder. This may be the next rung for them.
• Internal employee's record-Attendance/on time performance/proper uniform etc.)

Annual MentorCares™ Leadership Conference-was held on Friday October 28th in D.C. Thanks to our speakers and all the young people that participated. If you are interested in becoming a trained adult mentor or would like to learn more about our 12 Leadership Skills and 12 Life Skills just drop us an email at ron@leadershipcares.org. Our adult mentors are making a huge difference for D.C. area youth!                               

Career Building Plan-How are you doing on your career building goals? Review the Seven Things you can do to enhance your career that we laid out in January. Click: http://www.ronyudd.com/popn050126.htm. 

Putting in place a plan to accomplish the 7 things is the real test of success. This month a couple of additional thoughts on how to Put Your Career Building Plan into Action! 

• Envision Your Success-Create a picture of exactly what you want. What do things look like, feel like? What are you making, what is your title? Where are you working? If you have a picture you now have something to work toward. Think about this equation: No picture or vision = no destination! 
• Use the Internet to Help Expand Your Base of Knowledge- It may be a surprise to some but the internet is not just for playing on-line poker and checking on our fantasy football results. Part of your day should be set aside for real exploration of the web-with a focus on content that will help you attain the vision you created for your career! 
• Identify Company Mentors-(From last month's list but worth repeating) Identify those that have been there and done that. Start an email relationship--tell them that you are working on getting better at X and you know that they've done X and maybe you could get some advice. This also widens your circle within your organization.

http://www.kiplinger.com/personalfinance/tools/-Too many great tools to list here. Bookmark this site and review one checklist or one tool per week!

http://www.forbes.com/retirement/-Several great articles on this site that effect all of our readers and their retirement savings plans whether you operate your own small business or are part of a larger organization!