🍸 How To Get Your Team To Actually Listen...

Your weekly lesson and tactical reminders inside.

April 23, 2025

Happy Wednesday, Hospitality Heroes!

(Yes, we’re still running with that, for now 😅)

In today’s lesson, Brandon’s breaking down the exact coaching method he uses to get staff to actually listen—and do what you’re asking.

No eye-rolls.

No “uh huh” while they walk away.

Just real buy-in.

Watch the full training on YouTube 👇

How To Get Your Servers To Listen

You can watch the full video training on YouTube, or keep scrolling for a breakdown of Brandon’s lessons below.

🍸 Brandon’s No-BS Service Lesson:
How To Get Your Team To Listen

Here’s the deal:

Telling your staff what to do isn’t enough.

You can give the best advice in the world, but if they’re not tuned in—it’s in one ear, out the other.

That’s why I never coach by jumping straight to “You should…” or “Don’t do it like that.”

Instead, I always start with one thing:

A question.

Here’s how it looks in real time:

❌ Instead of:

  • “Hey, go pre-bus Table 12.”

✅ Try this:

  1. “Hey, do you have a second?”

  2. “Can I coach you on something?”

  3. Points at Table 12 “I see three things we could clean up—what do you see?”

They pause.

They think.

They engage.

And that’s when real learning happens.

Add These 3 Coaching Rules To Your Floor Today:

  • ✅ Rule #1: Ask at least one question before coaching.

Let them spot the mistake first. Now they own the solution.

  • ✅ Rule #2: New staff must ask 5 questions a shift.

Don’t wait for them to speak up—train them to stay curious.

  • ✅ Rule #3: Always respond with “Great question.”

Doesn’t matter what they ask. Your reaction sets the tone.

Want a culture where people actually want to get better?

This is how you build it.

—

When you do this right, your team holds each other accountable.

And coaching happens all shift long—without more meetings, without you micromanaging.

Let’s be real:

❌ You don’t need to yell louder.

✅ You need a better way to coach.

Want us to raise your sales by 10-20% in just 56 days…guaranteed?

🚀 Tactical Reminders:

Our Last Three Lessons:

You can read the rest of the past lessons here.

Mike Romaine

Chief Email Ninja at The Restaurant Launch (TRL)

When you’re ready, here are 2 ways we can help:

1) Servers - Referral Program: We’re working on something fun for servers and bartenders. Keep your eyes peeled. 👀 
2) Owners - FOH Service Training: We Guarantee We Can Raise Your Sales By 10-20% in 56 Days