In this challenging environment, two questions hold the key to unlocking increased sales and profit:
- Is there a missing piece you have never handled over your years (or decades) in business?
- With all those ideas sloshing around in your head, why can’t you see more clearly and focus?
These days, you must have every possible element working in your favor.
Making things right can add 5% to the top line and 2% to the bottom line.
Everyone wants these numbers. Especially as they think about their business during these summer days that make you feel the market is only going to give you so much and there’s nothing you can do.
But There’s Always a Lot You Can Do
Last week a young restaurateur asked me what kind of people make my best clients. My answer was clear: “People who can be vulnerable and identify their challenges.”
That is what gives multi-unit restaurant owners an opportunity to improve on their blind spots.
Because of current market conditions, many owners I work with are becoming increasingly willing to deal with their blind-spot issues—knowing that a good time to focus on improvements is when diners aren’t using restaurants as frequently as they used to.
This tough market has made restaurant owners more willing to be flexible and open.
Join Them
One of my clients already had a good vibe of a culture but had never become highly organized or held people accountable. Working with me showed them that they could both love their people and create specific expectations for greater revenue and profit.
Another client bravely told me, “We stink at marketing.” So we reworked the presentation of their brands to increase sales.
One client never really defined their culture, so they had missed opportunities to direct the behavior of guests and employees—which would have resulted in more money and happier people.
One had built an enviable company with just one problem: Their restaurants still needed them to be there every day. We identified powerful people in their organization and delegated responsibility so the owner was able to do the things they wanted to do outside of their restaurants before they got too old to do them!
Vulnerability and open-mindedness are the keys to improving already-great companies. How will you improve yours?
