Management books can help restaurant managers

My own personal challenge is to take the words of wisdom from experts in the fields of advertising, business, marketing, management, trends and service excellence, and apply them to our own world of foodservice. After all, ideas, especially good ones, are meant to be shared and used.

I've picked two books to share with you this week, The Pursuit of Wow! and 1001 Ways to Reward Employees. Both are quick and easy reads. Every manager and owner will find hundreds of great ideas in them. Big improvements can come about with little, incremental changes. So, I challenge you to pick just one idea from each book and use it improve your business.

The Pursuit of Wow! By: Tom Peters

Management books can help restaurant managers

Peters offers dozens examples of companies and people who have managed to Wow. One such company is a San Francisco deli called Khuri's. As you may or may not know, San Francisco is a world full of deli's, but Khuri's has managed to stand out. The "ebullient" owner (Khuri himself, of course) was the reason. He offered samples of dish after dish, told the history of his small business, how his cooking style differed from his mother's, gave the lowdown on catering, and lectured on nutritional value. And when he was complemented as a fantastic salesman, he claimed that "he was no salesman, just an announcer for the marvelous food that he loved so much."

Do you take so much as 60 seconds share your enthusiasm for your own food and service? Do you compel your guests to love it as much as you do? Take a lesson from Khuri, and all the others who have mastered the art of Wow!

1001 Ways to Reward Employees By: Bob Nelson

Management books can help restaurant managers

In his preface to the book, Bob Nelson states that "it is a rare manager who systematically makes the effort to simply thank employees for a job well done, let alone to do something more innovative to recognize accomplishments." It's true that it is an effort, but one which is well worth it.

This book is full of examples of companies who have developed proven ways to reward their employees. From things as simple as writing a "Thank You" on a post-it stuck to a pay check, to awarding a paid vacation day to top performers, there's no end to the ways you can show appreciation to your most important asset.

Pick up your copies today. Remember, the journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step.

Bill Main is a nationally-recognized author, consultant and speaker. His company, Bill Main & Associates, specializes in strategic growth plans for foodservice entrepreneurs. For information on how you can grow your top line revenues through innovative marketing, menu, leadership and training systems, visit www.billmain.com.