As a restaurant owner, chef, or restaurant manager, part of your job likely includes managing other staff members. Developing an effective management style can take years of research along with trial-and-error. Many people confuse leadership with management, however they are not necessarily the exact same thing.
While there are many management styles to choose from, some qualities and characteristics of effective managers have been clearly shown as superior.
American Intercontinental University suggests there are four basic types of management styles.
- Autocratic – staff members/employees have virtually no input
- Democratic – communication is vital between manager and employees to make decisions together
- Consulting – employee input is encouraged, but decisions still rest with manager
- Laid-Back – manager serves in a mentorship role and employees have large freedoms
Experts agree that the most effective management style varies from business to business and each individual involved. According to Harvard Business Review there is one universal quality shared by all great managers. This quality is the ability to look at each employee as an individual and capitalize on their unique strengths. In order to effectively exemplify this skill, managers must:
- Know the strengths of each individual
- Learn what triggers those strengths
- Understand how each person learns
While there is no one right answer to which management style is best, experts from Entrepreneur and Forbes suggest the following 10 qualities are most desirable.
- Ability to give constructive criticism
- Ask questions
- Listen to employee concerns
- Encourage opinion and idea sharing
- Have (responsible) fun with employees occasionally
- Show more than tell
- Encourage teamwork
- Place emphasis on communication skills
- Publicly recognize good work
- Be consistent
No matter your management style or specific role, this information can help you evaluate your own performance as well as that of others. Whether wearing a chef coat, business suit, or front of the house uniform, managers should always be looking to improve employee relations, customer experience, and revenue.