The Brutal Truth About Hiring

Here's the thing about hiring. It's fucking hard. Now, I know that might sound like blasphemy coming from someone who has built a business around training restaurants on how to hire better, but it's the truth. Hiring is really fucking hard. And I'm sure you've heard the statistics. 80% of new hires don't work out. I mean, that's a lot of failure. So if you're having a hard time hiring and getting the results you want, here's the good news. It's not you. It's the way you're approaching the problem. You're not playing to your strengths. Stick around and I'm going to give you five tips to fix this right now. And welcome to the Restaurant Coach Podcast. It is the cure for the common restaurant. I'm Donald Burns, the restaurant coach, author of the your restaurant sucks trilogy, Savage Restaurant Success, and the creator of the TRC Method. So how do we get our hiring on the right track? Well, here are five tips to get you going in the right direction. Tip number one Define your non negotiables. One of the biggest mistakes you're making is not having a clear idea what you're looking for. If you don't know exactly what you want, how can you expect to find it before you even start the hiring process? Sit down and define your non negotiables. What are the absolute must haves for this role? What skills, what traits and what experiences are critical for success in your restaurant? And when you do this, be ruthless. If you need someone with exceptional knife skills, don't settle for someone who's just okay. If you need someone who can handle high stress environments without cracking, don't hire someone who wilts under pressure. Define your non negotiables and stick to them. This is going to help you weed out candidates who are not a good fit and focus on the ones who are. Tip number two Use a structured interview process. Let me tell you, flying by to see if your pants during interviews is a recipe for disaster. You need a structured interview process that ensures that you're evaluating every candidate on the same criteria. This isn't about asking the same boring questions, about having a clear, consistent framework for assessing skills, experience and cultural fit. The best way to do this is create a set of questions that align with your non negotiables and your core values and use them in every single interview. This helps you compare candidates objectively and avoid being swayed by personal biases. It also shows candidates that you're serious about finding the right fit, which is going to attract higher quality applicants. I will tell you a structured interview process is your best defense against hiring duds. Tip number three Prioritize Cultural Fit Skills can be taught, but cultural fit cannot. If you hire someone who doesn't mesh with your restaurant's culture, it's only a matter of time before things go south. Sometimes they go south really, really bad. You need people who align with your values, your work ethic and your team dynamics. During the interview process, pay attention how candidates interact with you and also with the team. Are they enthusiastic about your restaurant's mission? Do they seem like they would get along with your existing team? Don't be afraid to involve your team in the hiring process. Let them meet the candidates and also allow them to provide feedback. After all, they're the ones who are actually going to be working side by side with this new hire day in and day out. Tip number four Invest in Onboarding and Training the hiring process doesn't end when the contract is signed. Proper onboarding and training are crucial for setting new hires up for success. Don't just throw them in the deep end and expect them to perform. I'm telling you, this is the number one thing where most restaurants go sideways. Inadequate Training. Invest time and resources into a comprehensive onboarding program that covers everything from your restaurant's values and culture to specific job responsibilities and expectations. Provide ongoing training and development opportunities to help your team members grow and also to improve. This not only enhances their skills, but also shows that you're actually interested in their success. When the team feels supported and valued, they're more likely to stay and also perform at their best. Tip 5 continuously evaluate and Adjust I'm telling you, the hiring landscape is constantly changing. What worked yesterday might not work today. You need to be flexible and willing to adjust your hiring strategies as needed. Continuously evaluate your hiring process and the performance of your team. Are you consistently finding and retaining top talent or are you seeing higher turnover and poor performance? Gather feedback from your team and the new hires about their experience and use that information to make improvements. Stay updated on industry trends and best practices and please don't be afraid to try new approaches. Hiring is an ongoing process and the best leaders are always looking for ways to get better. Here's the thing, hiring doesn't have to be a nightmare. By defining your non negotiables, using a structured interview process, prioritizing a cultural fit, investing in onboarding and training, and also continuously evaluating and adjusting, you can dramatically improve your chances of finding the right people for your team. Remember, it's not about hiring quickly. It's about hiring smartly. Hey, make sure to hit that like and subscribe button before you leave and please share this video with someone that you feel could really use the message. So it's time to stop screwing up your hiring process and start building a team that your restaurant deserves. Apply today for my next eight week restaurant owner academy head over to warriorrestaurants.com right now. Watch a short film that's going to kind of take you deeper into the transformative power of my unique blend of the warriors way with my signature TRC method. Take advantage of my insights from 45 years of experience in the trenches of the restaurant industry and discover how you can reclaim your passion, your purpose and also your profitability. Don't settle for less. It's time to thrive. Visit Warrior Restaurants now and take the first step towards a brighter future for your restaurant, for your family, for yourself. Apply today for my next eight Week Restaurant Owner Academy.