Czaro Strategic Communications

Last week, I shared that I was once a server in a restaurant.

Twenty years later, I have a real appreciation for restaurant workers. Now, when I go out to eat, I observe everything around me and I give feedback.

After I wrote the prior post, I remembered an experience from a few years ago. While eating at…scratch that…while waiting endlessly for my food to arrive at a national chain restaurant, I saw the hardest-working person in the place – the busboy. He could knock down and reset a table in less than a minute. I know because I watched him hit table after table after table. I had time to observe because my server was ignoring me. I had no food and an empty water glass.

This busboy took pride in his work. He had a smile on his face. Was it because he enjoyed it? Yes, sort of.

He told me that the faster he turns a table, the quicker the server can get new customers. That means that at the end of the night his share of the tips is bigger.

That’s some pretty big picture thinking from a minimum wage worker.

My meal arrived – it was wrong. But the server never came back to check on me, so I ate it anyway. After I paid, and left a note for the server, “Where were you? I was here all night.” I sought out the manager.

I started to speak, but before I could he started apologizing. He explained that my server was new and that they were short in the kitchen and…on and on. I let him finish. Then I said, “I know that service tonight was far below average. I just want you to know that Robert, the busboy, is the hardest working person in this place.” And then I told him what Robert said to me about how doing his job makes everyone more money..

The manager’s jaw dropped open. He handed me $30 in gift certificates to come back and give his restaurant a second chance.

I told the manager to give the $30 to Robert, because he got it right the first time.

Take time to appreciate and recognize each person’s efforts.