In the fast-paced world of hospitality, success is often measured by profitability, customer satisfaction, and operational efficiency. While tools like the Profitability Matrix, forecasting, and KPIs play a critical role, one often overlooked factor is the power of regular coaching sessions.
Coaching sessions represent the “I” in the PERI Framework (Plan, Execute, Results, Improve), focusing on improvement through accountability. These sessions align teams with goals, foster ownership of results, and drive continuous betterment. Here’s why they’re essential for hospitality success.
1. Aligning Teams With Financial Goals
Regular coaching sessions ensure managers and chefs are focused on the key financial metrics that drive profitability.
- Wages and Sales: Discuss wage percentages daily or weekly to ensure labor costs stay aligned with revenue.
- Food and Beverage COGS: For chefs, understanding food and beverage costs allows them to make informed purchasing and preparation decisions.
- Sales Targets: Managers can track progress toward revenue goals and adjust promotional efforts to meet them.
These discussions align everyone with the venue’s financial objectives and keep the team focused on improving results.
2. Encouraging Accountability
Coaching sessions foster a culture of accountability by regularly reviewing performance and progress. This accountability is a cornerstone of the Improve phase in PERI.
- Chefs: Are held responsible for food COGS, waste management, and kitchen efficiency.
- Managers: Take ownership of wage percentages, sales, and overall operations.
- Collaboration: Both roles are encouraged to work together, ensuring back-of-house and front-of-house teams are aligned.
When team members are accountable for their areas, they’re more likely to take ownership of their decisions and actions.
3. Driving Continuous Improvement
Weekly coaching provides the opportunity to identify areas for improvement and create actionable plans to address them.
- Performance Reviews: Analyze the previous week’s results, identify what went well, and address what didn’t.
- Problem-Solving: Tackle issues like high wage percentages or food waste head-on with collaborative solutions.
- Setting Goals: Establish realistic, measurable goals for the coming week to keep teams focused.
Regular check-ins create a rhythm of ongoing improvement, ensuring that the venue constantly adapts and evolves.
4. Turning Data Into Meaningful Insights
Financial reports and KPIs are only useful if they lead to action. Coaching sessions help managers and chefs interpret these numbers and turn them into meaningful improvements.
- Profitability Matrix: Break down how sales, COGS, wages, and overheads contribute to operating profit.
- Weekly Forecasting: Compare forecasts to actual results and adjust plans for the next week accordingly.
- Daily Monitoring: Encourage managers to track sales and wage percentages daily to identify trends and make timely adjustments.
By translating data into insights, coaching sessions empower teams to make better decisions.
5. Building Confidence and Leadership Skills
For managers and chefs, regular coaching isn’t just about accountability—it’s also about development.
- Financial Literacy: Teach them how to understand profitability reports and KPIs so they can make informed decisions.
- Leadership Development: Equip them with the tools and skills to manage teams effectively and drive performance.
- Problem-Solving Skills: Regular coaching builds confidence in tackling challenges and finding solutions.
This investment in their growth pays dividends in the form of stronger, more capable leaders.
6. Encouraging Proactive Management
Coaching shifts the mindset from reactive to proactive management. Instead of addressing issues after they arise, teams are encouraged to anticipate challenges and act before they impact operations.
- Chefs: Can adjust purchasing and portion sizes based on sales trends to manage food costs effectively.
- Managers: Can adjust rosters or implement promotions to address projected dips in sales.
Proactive management ensures the venue stays ahead of potential problems and remains focused on profitability.
7. Real-Life Impact: A Coaching Success Story
One client, a venue manager, consistently struggled with high wage percentages during winter—a traditionally slow period. Through weekly coaching, we worked together to:
- Set Realistic Wage Targets: Aligning rosters with lower sales expectations.
- Monitor Daily Sales and Wages: Adjusting shifts in real-time to stay within budget.
- Focus on Promotions: Implementing targeted events to drive foot traffic during quiet weeks.
The result? For the first time in 10 years, the venue achieved a profit during winter, turning a traditionally challenging season into a financial success.
8. Supporting Long-Term Success
Regular coaching sessions aren’t just about weekly performance—they lay the foundation for sustainable growth.
- Consistency: Weekly check-ins create a routine of accountability and improvement.
- Adaptability: Teams learn to respond to changes in the market, customer behavior, and internal challenges.
- Strategic Thinking: Coaching encourages managers and chefs to think beyond their daily tasks and contribute to the venue’s long-term success.
This focus on improvement ensures venues remain competitive and profitable over time.
Coaching as the Core of PERI
In hospitality, regular coaching sessions are more than just meetings—they’re the foundation of accountability and improvement. As part of the “I” in PERI, coaching connects data with actionable insights, ensuring managers and chefs are aligned with financial goals and continuously improving.
Incorporating weekly coaching into your venue’s routine can transform operations, improve financial performance, and create a culture of accountability and excellence. After all, there is no improvement without accountability, and coaching provides the structure to make that happen.
