S2E59 - Creating a Winning Restaurant Culture that Lasts

About the Episode

---

In this conversation, Jason Berkowitz, founder of Arrow Up Training, shares his extensive journey in the hospitality industry, detailing his passion for the field and the lessons learned from opening nearly 100 restaurants. He emphasizes the importance of training, feedback, and maintaining clear processes to ensure operational efficiency.

Jason discusses the critical path to opening a restaurant and how effective documentation and playbooks can significantly impact success. He also highlights the need for clear communication about roles and expectations to foster a positive work culture. In this conversation, Jason Berkowitz discusses the importance of streamlining restaurant operations, the significance of developing leadership within the industry, and the inception of Arrow Up Training.

Moreover, he emphasizes the need for systems to reduce micromanagement and improve efficiency, especially when expanding restaurant locations. The discussion also touches on the challenges of compliance and the necessity of training supervisors to enhance employee retention.

Finally, Berkowitz shares insights from his book, 'Please Don't Sleep With The Host,' and outlines future plans for Arrow Up Training, focusing on providing accessible training resources for the restaurant industry.

Takeaways

• Jason's journey into hospitality began at a young age, inspired by his mother's clothing business and a local Burger King.
• The vibe and atmosphere of restaurants play a crucial role in attracting individuals to the industry.
• Training programs are essential for employee success and should be prioritized from the start.
• Feedback is vital for employee development and should be a continuous process.
• Documenting processes is key to maintaining consistency and efficiency in operations.
• A critical path to opening a restaurant helps manage timelines and responsibilities effectively.
• Rent can often be the least expensive aspect of opening a restaurant compared to lost labor costs due to delays.
• Clear definitions of roles and expectations help prevent misunderstandings and improve team dynamics.
• Creating a culture of constant training and feedback can enhance employee engagement and performance.
• Cost savings can have a more significant impact on profitability than increased sales. Streamlining operations can save money and reduce headaches.
• Establishing systems limits the need for micromanagement.
• Developing supervisors into leaders is crucial for growth.
• Compliance training is essential for restaurant culture.
• Empowering employees leads to better retention rates.
• Training should speak the language of the industry.
• Supervisors are key to bridging expectations and execution.
• Creating a community of leaders enhances learning.
• Offering free training can benefit the entire industry.
• Future plans include expanding training resources and partnerships.

Timestamps

00:00 Teen improved coffee shop sales, began career. 05:57 Focused on creating a training program first. 08:23 Start with personal journey; strong onboarding reduces turnover. 12:24 Foster culture of consistent training and collaboration. 14:37 Defining done avoided arguments and clarified expectations. 17:14 Checklists build or destroy culture through accountability. 19:59 Reducing inventory costs increases profit efficiency. 25:33 Responsibility, timelines, completion, opening date consequences. 27:20 Implement systems for effective management and delegation. 29:57 Developing leaders through soft skills and growth. 33:30 Navigating social boundaries reduces risk for insurers. 35:40 Building community of young empowered leaders. 39:23 Transition from old-school to new-school management. 43:11 Helping people through free content and resources. 46:53