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Big Ink PR - February 2014 - Issue 39

Four Quick Tips to Avoid a Wait Staff Mutiny

As a leader, it can be challenging to supervise the wide range of personalities of our staff. We’ll always have our standout servers or cooks who go above and beyond the call of duty and need little to no direction, and then we have individuals who might need a kick in the rear to get them moving. Regardless of which category individual staff members fall into, it’s on us to make sure the house runs smoothly. These are a few things I like to do to lead and motivate my staff, while also ensuring they aren’t trying to throw me over board.

1. Catch them doing something right
In most cases, only 14% of employees feel that they are contributing to the success of a company, so it is important for us to let them know when they have done good work. When you catch them doing something right, be sure to acknowledge what they did.

2. Be productive and results-oriented
Focus on what it is that you want the team to accomplish and how your employees can assist in attaining that goal. As leaders, we should help our employees prioritize work, while continuously striving to eliminate roadblocks and other obstacles.

3. Communication is key
Communication is a two-way street; listen to your employees and provide them with feedback. When Mia Wallace meets Vincent Vega for the first time in Pulp Fiction, she asks him, “Do you listen or do you wait to talk?” Vincent ponders her question for a moment and then responds, “I wait to talk but I’m trying to listen.” Make sure you are actively listening and not just waiting to talk. We want to offer constructive feedback to our employees that is both clear and specific. It is a good idea to have regular sit downs, or one-on-one meetings with your employees that recommend solutions to problems customized to that individuals’ strengths. Remember to balance the negative and positive too; no one likes only hearing what they are doing wrong. Staff meetings should include the whole team, and are the perfect setting for you to lay out specific team goals. Also, encourage open discussions and listen to the concerns and questions of your staff.

4. Leadership is a matter of the heart, not the head
If our employees feel that we have a general interest in their lives and well-being, as well as legitimately caring about their success, they may be motivated to work harder for us and the company. Appreciation for your staff can be shown through words of encouragement and recognizing when someone has done a good job. It really boosts morale when someone is acknowledged for their hard work. Also, gifts and perks don’t hurt either (who wouldn’t love to receive a bottle of wine for a job well done?). You can transform yourself from a good leader to a great one by being disciplined, passionate, accountable and tenacious.

bigInk in Austin

bigInk is keeping Austin weird and recently opened a new office in Austin, TX. bigInk veteran Mallory Jensen is heading up public relations and marketing services and recently signed on Chef Mark Schmidt’s new restaurant, Blackbird and Henry, opening mid-February. Joining bigInk’s real estate team is Ziggy Marrow, who will manage real estate services in the Austin office. If you know of anyone that Mallory or Ziggy needs to meet, mingle or grab happy hour with, feel free to shoot her an email - Mallory@biginkpr.com. Cheers ya’ll!

In My Head

It all started over a year ago; one of my best buddies died, essentially because he didn't like doctors, like many men. Maybe it's we don't like doctors, or maybe we're just scared of needles (or maybe it's we don't like what comes with having our prostates checked). Mallory and the girls in the office are big supporters of Movember and talked me into growing a beard last November. I'm a big fan of the charity, and I felt a tug in my heart to do more. Entre the Billy Goat Project. I've decided to rock the billy goat look until I know 100 men have gone to get their health checkup - you know which one I'm talking about guys. With four down and 96 to go, who can I count on to pick up the phone and make an appointment?

Used Equipment coming soon...
In our next newsletter we will be highlighting information on our auction company. If you have quality used restaurant equipment that needs to be sold or liquidated, give us a ring.

Until Next Time
Looking to take your PR campaign to the next level? Not satisfied with your current space or looking to expand your restaurant? bigInk would be glad to help your business reach its fullest potential with our public relations, marketing and real estate services. Contact us today at (214) 485-7300, or visit our website at

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