Donald Burns identifies three hiring mistakes that tank restaurants: picking technical skill over personality, rushing interviews instead of digging into behavior, and panic-hiring when desperate. Skills can be taught. Attitude and fit cannot.
Making these three hiring mistakes. No wonder your restaurant is struggling. Let's talk about Steve. Steve ran a decent restaurant, but was constantly dealing with a team that just didn't click. Can you relate? I asked him about his hiring process and boy, it was a real mess. Steve was hiring for skill over personality, skipping through intervals, and worst of all, he was a panic hire. I mean, it was a disaster waiting to happen. And guess what? It happened. Ever? Have you ever bought a fancy gadget without reading the reviews only to realize it's a piece of junk? Well, that was Steve's hiring process in a nutshell. He was grabbing people based on a shiny resume because, you know, you needed someone ASAP without considering if they actually fit the team. It's kind of like buying a sports car without checking if it has an engine. I know this is an absurd belief that people have and that you might have this too. If they have the skills, they will be fine. That is so wrong. Skills can be taught, but personality and cultural fit? Ooh, those are non negotiables. Stop treating your hiring like a game of roulette and start being strategic. So here are three hiring mistakes and how you can fix them immediately. Number one, hire for skill over personality. You. You think that skills are all that matters? That is the stupidest thing in the world. Personality and cultural fit are crucial. Hire people who align with your restaurant's core values and also your vibe. Remember, your vibe attracts your tribe. Skills can be taught, but attitude and character. And those are gold. Number two, not doing a thorough interview. Skipping detailed interviews. Again, bad move, stupid move, dumb move. A quick chat's not going to cut it. Conduct a very, very thorough interview to really understand who you are bringing onto your team. Dig deep, ask behavioral based questions. Ask the tough questions as well. And number three. Ooh, the dreaded panic hire. I've done this so many times and I'll tell you, it's the biggest mistake I ever made when I had my own restaurants. Hiring out of sheer desperation is a bonehead move at best. Panic hires almost always end in disaster. Plan ahead, build a talent pipeline, and never, ever, ever settle for the first warm buddy that walks through the door. Desperation leads to dysfunction. If your team feels like a mismatched group of strangers, kind of like a bunch of pirates. The problem all starts with your hiring process. Remember, personality over skills, thorough complete interview questions and interviews that are behavioral based and strategic. Hiring are your keys to building your dream team. Stop making excuses and start hiring right. So if you're ready to break free from your restaurant running you into the ground. Grab a seat at my free 90 minute TRC method masterclass. This thing is where I'm going to show you a three step process to actually start getting the restaurant and the life that you want and that you desire. All you have to do is just head over to Restaurant Coach.
If your restaurant only works because you work 80 hours a week, it doesn't work.
