1. Managers; Normally, there are three levels of managers (1) Top manager (2) Middle manager and (3) Supervisors. Each levels of managers performs different duties and the area of their responsibilities are different too.
(1) Top manager normally set the goals, objectives, and the policy of the company and plan for the long-term operation basis.
(2) Middle managers concern on the short-term plan of the company. They are in the command of the top managers and following those given policy, plan, or objectives by breaking down into smaller period of time and achieving what they have planned.
(3) Supervisors normally control and take actions on the day-to-day operation basis. They are responsible for directing and organizing employees to achieve the day-to-day objectives / operations of the company which must be fit to the short term and long term objectives.
2. Production personnel; This area of food and beverage operations is mainly concerning in the kitchen. They have less or no contact with the guests. Typical personnel in food and beverage production comprises chefs, cooks, assistant cooks, stewards, and so on…In this area of study we will not discuss in deeply details on this topic.
3. Service personnel; They are likely to be the window or door of the house. They have a great deal of contact with guests and perform a wide variety functions and activities. They can make the first impression and valuable experience to the guest and resulting them go back for the business, and they might make bad impression to the guests also. Service personnel in food and beverage department includes restaurant managers, hosts or captains, food servers, buspersons, service bartenders, bartenders, beverage servers, and cashier. Normally, waiters and waitress perform the same duties as food servers and beverage servers. We will discuss in more details about these titles in the next topic.
2. Personal Qualities of the Professional Server
As mentioned above people in food and beverage operations most sensitive group of persons is service personnel which is directly affected the sale volumes of the department. From this point of view, the professional server must have certain physical (more details in chapter 4) and behavioral characteristics. We can discuss on these following point by points.
❖ Reliable: They must report to work on time, serve the customers properly, and complete all tasks assigned to you.
❖ Agility: They must be able to move quickly, the speed of work can contribute the sales and profits to the restaurant.
❖ Communication Skills: They must be able to communicate in both verbal and none – verbal languages. The examples of verbal communication include taking to verbal communication include the ways to communicate with food productions personnel.
❖ Discretion: The customers may discuss business or private matters with their companions while they are having a meal, service personnel should practice a high level of discretion if they accidentally overhead any such conversations.
❖ Honesty: everyone in food and beverage services will come into contact with cash at some time during the working day, it is essential that honesty is an undisputed attribute of all staff.
❖ Health and Hygiene: Personal care should be taken by all staff to ensure that they remain in good health at all times. Personal hygiene standards should be introduced to all staff and they must follow strictly all the times too.
❖ Local Knowledge: Customers will sometimes want to know about local services, custom, attractions, events or beauty spots. This topic includes information inside the organization, hotel, or restaurant etc.
❖ Logical Thought: Service personnel must plan, think and work in logical manner. It is the way to improve their productivity or contribution and guest’s satisfactory.
❖ Manipulative Skill: They must be able to perform manipulative skills before learning any professional or technical skills like multiple plate clearing, silver serving, and opening a bottle of wine.
❖ Numerary: it is necessary to service personnel to add up a customer bill and to give correct change.
❖ Positive Attitude: The willingness to help the customer, think positively would help the customer impress to the provided services at the restaurant.
❖ Product Knowledge: The service personnel should know the products of their operations well such as food and beverage items on the menu, information of restaurant, hotel, or organization and other related information about the operations.
❖ Pride: If service personnel have a pride in themselves and the establishment, they will be alert and conscious of all that is going on around them.
❖ Salesmanship: Everybody in food and beverage service is, in fact, a salesman; any increasing revenues by offering dishes and beverages to the customers are what they have to do.
❖ Team Spirit or Cooperative: Teamwork means cooperating and working together with co-workers and the supervisor of the dining room to serve the public. Service personnel must have a good attitude, willing to work hard with co-workers, be a good team player, be adapting to the policies of management, and learn directly with production personnel, so they have to be the same team by reducing all possible gaps between them. Keep focused on your job even under pressure and time restraints.
❖ Assisting Customers: With special needs some customer may require special attention or assistance from service personnel such as the elder, handicapped persons, children, etc. if you can immediately provide those requirements, they will surely come back to your services.
❖ Persuasive: They must have the ability to sell themselves, the restaurant, and menu items during the course of service to the customer. To do this, they must be able to communicate well. They talents of persuasion ensure that the customer’s wants and needs are met, and suggestion selling increases the size of the check, restaurant profits, and, in the end, your tip.
❖ Clean and Neat: They must present a tidy appearance that reflects the image of a clean and neat restaurant. Particular attention should be given to hair, nails, and uniform.
❖ Attentive: They must be aware of the progress of the meal at each table and anticipate needs as they arise. Be aware of emptied water glasses and coffee cups, but not to an excessive degree. Judging when more wine should be poured, when the table needs to be cleared, and how orders should be coordinated required that a server.