Donald Burns tells hospitality leaders that poor performance usually isn't a team problem—it's unclear standards and leaders who don't model them consistently. Culture is set by what you allow. Clear standards enforced with grace work better than hiring new people.
It's easy to look at your team and think they just don't care like I do. They're lazy. They're always late. But let me ask you something. Were those expectations ever clearly defined? Were those behaviors ever consistently addressed? Were those standards modeled by you? Now this is not a blame game. This is a wake up call. Your people will always rise or fall to the standards you set and also the ones you tolerate. If you don't show up prepared and consistent, they won't either. If you let things slide once, they're gonna test that boundary again and again. Here's the truth no one will tell you. Culture is not created by rules. It's created by what the leader allows. You don't need a new team. You need a new level of leadership. You need a standard that is clear. A standard that is modeled and upheld with grace. Raise the bar. Raise your standards not to punish, but but to elevate. Follow me for leadership tools that build teams who will show up strong. And if you want help rewriting your standards, apply for a one on one strategy session with me personally. All you have to do is head over to therestaurantcoach.com right now.
If your restaurant only works because you work 80 hours a week, it doesn't work.
