Restaurant Bus Person Training Manual
Bussing tables might be the most neglected section of a restaurant’s front-of-house team—and that’s a problem. When the bussing staff doesn’t receive quality and continuous training, a restaurant’s profitability is in danger. Owners and managers tend to overlook or underappreciate the skill and maneuvering that goes into the job. What this type of management fails to see is how much bussing impacts the overall customer service. Diners notice the details.
Here are a few examples of telltale signs that a neglected bussing team is running tables:. There is an overflowing bus tub.
Dirty dishes are piled in a corner. Bussers cut in front of guests to clear a table. Plates are picked up noisily.
Drinking glasses are left empty for too long. Trash is left on the table, like empty sugar packets or used straws. Tables and chairs are littered with crumbs. A table sits empty with dirty dishes for a long time. Tables are still wet after a quick wipe-down.
These details might seem inconsequential, but customers notice them. Worst of all, they can make your guests feel ignored or unseen. Bussing tables requires training, skill, finesse, and efficiency. Focus more on your bussing staff, and in doing so, convert guests from being one-time visitors into loyal patrons. Give More Guidance Every restaurant manager and owner tries to when possible, but the most common mistake is not investing in service training and materials. To perform well, you staff—bussers in particular—need your time, dedication, and willingness to invest. Instead of telling your bussers to be as fast as possible, train them in the art of giving great service.
With deliberate training in customer service, the results are immediate: Customers are happier, your FOH team operates seamlessly, and you no longer need to replace basic items like:. Plates that cracked when carelessly stacked.
Glasses that broke when bussed too fast. Silverware that was accidentally thrown out. Customer’s meals that were accidentally picked up. Having a well-trained bussing staff allows your restaurant to run like a well-oiled machine. How to Train Your Staff to Be World-Class Bussers An excellent table busser is swift, elegant, and invisible. Without disturbing guests, he or she arranges the tables to perfection, removes clutter quickly, and always makes sure customers have what they need. With time and patience, you can train your bussing staff to give world-class service, too.
Bus Person Job Description
To get started, one must first recognize the difference between enforcing the restaurant’s standards for a dining experience and guidelines for table-busser training. For instance, training staff to maintain the restaurant vision would include directions like:.
The right way to fold napkins. Which music to play for lunch and dinner. The right length for wearing an apron. What the right temperature is. These are important because they are related to ambiance and style, but must not be confused with training points for bussing. They are reinforcing the vision of the owner only. Instead, focus on explaining how to give outstanding service.
The goal of your training is to have a table bussing team that gives the guests what they need before the guests realize it themselves. If you are committed to giving top customer service, talk with your staff about the new goals and intentions. This training requires a willing team of students, so be clear about your service-related targets to ensure that everyone is on board.
Training your staff to give great service also requires dedication on your part. Patience and compassion are essential, particularly as there will be a learning curve if this type of training is new to your busser staff. Table Busser Training is About Giving Great Service The secret to training bussers in the art of customer service is thoughtful repetition and hands-on guidance. Bussers are responsible for making the guests as comfortable as possible, yet they have little to zero communication with diners. To learn how to do more than clear tables fast, you can show them how to directly improve guests’ experience.
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An excellent busser talks with the kitchen and serving staff to know exactly what the needs of the customer is, and delivers them right away. Your busser team is the liaison between departments, so it’s essential that they have access to orders and that your serving staff speaks clearly with them. (Do you have a communication system set up between your teams? If not, for ways to improve communications between the FOH and kitchen.) In your training, stress the importance of critical thinking and being proactive. For instance, when a customer orders soup, a busser brings a soup spoon to the table right away. When coffee is ordered, milk and sugar are brought with it.
If two guests are sharing a meal, two sharing plates are brought out. The list could go on and on. Think about the types of customers you have and their needs, then, consider how your bussing staff can help give them great service. These responses should become automatic over time, yet getting to that point requires diligence and gentle reminders on your part.
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Continue to work with your busser team even after they have become swift in their service. 06, 2017 Written By: Emma Alois.