• Join A Game

  • Contact Sales

What causes staff to disengage (and what you can do to win them back)

Written by

Adam Johnston

Give me a bottle of bourbon and half a chicken, and I’ll conquer the world! My job is to make sure that everyone else does their job, which has to be the easiest job in the world considering the brilliant, hard-working people we have in our Flock. My ultimate goal is to run a company that people are proud to work for. I’m an avid statesman, adventurer, Burner, Broadway aficionado, athlete, and I wear my Cole Haans as often as my cowboy boots. It’s a wonderful life.All Posts
bar restaurant server waiter wait staff kitchen bartender 8 scaled

From BarBusinessOwner.com

Are you able to say your staff is 100% engaged and totally driven to give all to the job at hand?
 
Of course not.
 
Staff disengagement goes hand in hand with the bar and restaurant business. It creates sub-par customer experiences and leads to reduced profitability
 
The harsh fact is that the root cause of staff disengagement can be traced right back to your management.
bar restaurant server waiter wait staff kitchen bartender 5 scaled

What causes staff disengagement?

Staff Feel Devalued
This can be caused by several things:
  • not being recognized or acknowledged for a job well done, or ignored
  • feeling under-challenged or that they are working below their capabilities
  • being unfairly treated or denied a request for leave, additional flexibility, etc.
  • not being listened/responded to or asked for their input
Staff Do Not Trust Their Manager
Disengaged staff who lose trust in their manager spend more time wondering what truths their managers are trying to hold back from them or questioning their manager’s honesty, than taking care of their assigned responsibilities.
 
Managers can lose staff’s trust by saying one thing and doing another. If you promise something to an employee, they expect you to follow-through.
 
Keeping your word and being consistent is the best way to keep employees’ trust.
 
Micromanaging or over-controlling how tasks are completed is also important. If your staff feels like you don’t trust or believe in their capabilities, they may reciprocate and not trust you. Trust is a two way street, and you must be willing to give trust to gain it.
 
Disconnect
Staff become disengaged when they don’t have a good connection with their manager.
 
For many employees, their boss is one of the most important people in their work-life.
 
As a result, positive, supportive relationships between employees and their managers play a critical role in engaging staff.
bar restaurant server waiter wait staff kitchen bartender 3 scaled

The Solution

Your management team can often reverse staff disengagement, or head it off by:
  • Connecting better
  • Developing trust by making it a priority
  • Valuing staff

The end result is a better performing operation, more engaged employees, and a more positive environment for your customers and staff.