Teamwork in the Hospitality Industry

FREE

"Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence win championships." – Michael Jordan

Long-term success in your bar, hotel, restaurant or wherever you work, can only be achieved if everyone does their part. A chef makes good food, maintenance ensures the broken table is repaired, waiters deliver excellent service, and there are many more co-workers each having to play their role.

Having good camaraderie with your co-workers will improve the general day-to-day interaction and teamwork with your co-workers. But like all good things in life, it will take time and effort to build a trusting bond with your co-workers, stimulating mutual support and character building.

Does this scenario sound familiar? John: "Lisa, where is the clean glass I asked for?" Lisa: "I asked Carine to bring the glass!"

Do you think better teamwork could have improved this scenario? Each day you bring yourself, with your strengths and weaknesses, to work - neither you, nor your co-workers, are perfect.

So, we need to learn how to understand and communicate better with each other to be more empathetic. If Lisa was more in-tune with Carine she would have known that Carine has a bit of a hearing problem, so she doesn't always hear things.

Empathy can be generated from mutual respect and understanding of your co-worker's situation. Each story has two sides, your side and your co-worker's side.

Let’s think back to our scenario with John and Lisa - when John asked Lisa to get a clean glass.

There is much more than just the words that conveyed the message to the other party. The non-verbal communication, like the tone in which Lisa replied to John played a huge part in the message John received.

Respect is something that is built through time. Team members should build good communication culture to ensure effective communication. So, let’s explore some good communication habits.

In your next shift, make sure to ask for the names you can't remember. Repeat them in your head three times, and practice, practice, practice...

It is rush-hour, and your workplace is buzzing. You have to place drink orders at the bar, for the bartenders that have their hands full on the other side of the bar. How are you going to get your orders to the bartender?

If you are planning on shouting at them, that would not be the wisest move - you'll just add to the noise that's already a cacophony.

Let’s look at a few steps you can take to improve your communication in noisy environments.

Face each other directly when you are speaking. Research shows that when we receive a message with both ears it improves our processing of the information we heard.

It can also help you notice body language.

It can also help you see any signs or gestures the other person is using to convey a message.

A noisy environment has its challenges. Which of the following options is the best way to communicate?

Kuskoy is a small village located on a mountain high above Turkey's Black Sea coast. The fog around the mountain makes it challenging to hear a human voice. To overcome this challenge the Kuskoy villagers developed a way of communicating using whistling which can be heard several miles away. This technique is called: "bird language".

Whistling might not be the best solution for your situation. But look at different ways, such as sign language to help you to convey your message even in a noisy environment.

Think of it as a team building exercise - use your own workplace language. It can be lots of fun, and ultimately quite useful.

As you have learned, teamwork is practical. And like any practical skill it needs to be practiced. Start off with the basics: Smile Have empathy with your team members And find an effective way to communicate

You can be the transformation your team needs!