Servers are required to constantly juggle multiple priorities on a minute-by-minute basis.  Continually reevaluating what is the most urgent guest need and how to address other needs efficiently to prevent anticipatable needs from becoming urgent.  Our guests, managers, and co-workers determine our priorities.  All three of these groups have no problems speaking up and letting us know what their needs are.  Trying to find the best way to accommodate all of these needs is the mark of a great server.

Beyond the immediate needs, we too often fail to understand the competing priorities of our guests, managers, and corporations.  Each of these groups has very different priorities than a server.  Each of these groups also has the distinct ability to drive us crazy.  Their priorities are different than ours.  Only by understanding each group’s priorities can we find a way to meet their objectives and try to have them meet ours.

Read the full post at The Manager’s Office