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| Waiter Training Newsletter |
Some Tips on Tips
Again, this newsletter is for waiters! I think about wait staff a lot because I used to make my living waiting tables. I can’t help but observe waiters, good and bad, and try to decipher why they do what they do, or don’t do, as the case may be.
Tips! It’s your salary and you determine the amount on a daily basis. Are you practicing good habits and are you positive and attentive to your tables? There are so many little nuances that go into giving great service. You wait on so many different people and you don’t always know the best way to handle every situation – that’s life!
The obvious standards are a positive attitude, being friendly without being over-chatty and delivering quick, responsive service. The nuances, the little things we’re used to saying, including job lingo, can create good or bad feelings in your guests. You never know what kind of day someone has had and you certainly don’t know their backgrounds to know what kind of people they like best. You are their server and that’s that!
I have noticed that I pay attention to how servers relate to me; the feeling I get from them is almost more important than their service standards. Being called “Honey” and “Sweetie” by one person may be okay with me; those names given by another may irritate me. Who knows for what reason? I don’t even know. Err on the side of caution - just don’t do it!
No one likes to deal with incompetence. Confidence is a big tip-getter. Not arrogance - confidence. We want to know that you, the server, are comfortable and can handle any situation you’re given. Shyness doesn’t work in the restaurant – come out of your shell!
I have to address the tip itself. It’s generally a rule in every restaurant that you never confront a guest regarding a tip that you feel is too small. Never force a guest to leave you more of a tip than he may be comfortable with. You all know what that means. When a guest leaves cash in the check folder and you sweep by to take it to the register or make change yourself, you say, “Do you need change?” I know it’s a shortcut; I know you haven’t looked inside yet to see if there is a $100 bill in there or a $20 bill. If you’re really into saving steps, say, “I’ll be right back with your change!” instead. You may or may not get the response you need to save steps; you don’t risk irritating your guests.
Understand that money is a personal issue for people. It’s not polite to discuss income levels or what you paid for your car or suit unless it’s relevant to the discussion at hand. It’s also not okay for you to assume that you’re going to get a 20% tip just because you feel you deserve it. Your guest may feel you only deserve a 15% tip or may not include 20% into his budget. The point is you don’t know what he’s thinking! So it’s not safe to assume anything!
Now let’s say you’ve done everything nicely and politely and you’re returning the change on a $30.00 check; your guest gave you a $100.00 bill. You return to him three 20’s and two 5’s. You’re forcing your guest to leave you a $5 tip and maybe he wanted to give you $4 or maybe even $6 or $7! Two things can happen: you may have ticked off your guest or you may have short-changed yourself, neither of which is good for you or your pocket!
I guess being a waiter is being part psychologist, too. You have to understand a little about how people think. Think about how you feel when certain things are said to you. Keeping that in mind, I have to say the most important quality of a great waiter is sincerity. You have to be a good person to be a good waiter – in the long run. There are always going to be those insincere folks who can convince people for a short time; the others will last and succeed in whatever they choose to do.
Money is a funny thing – don’t short-change yourselves!
Questions, comments or concerns about any of this? Email or call me! I’ll be happy to address your individual queries or at least ponder your thoughts.
Training and information is the key! Contact me, Susie, at Waiter Training, either by phone or email. My business number is (720) 203-4615, and web address is http://www.waiter-training.com.
“A Waiter’s Training” is only $17.95! - Order Now!
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720.203.4615All training material will soon be available in Spanish.
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