Or maybe you’ve been at it for a while, and now that your business is on a growth curve, you’re not quite sure how to balance all your duties and your life responsibilities.
Whatever the case, burnout is not an uncommon occurrence in the restaurant industry. And if you don’t do anything about it, it’s not about to get a whole lot better on autopilot.
Whether you’re starting to burn out as a business owner, or if your staff are overworked, here are some suggestions on how to find balance while running a restaurant.
Business owners must wear a lot of different hats when they’re first getting their business off the ground. But this does not mean that you should shoulder the same responsibilities indefinitely.
As you continue to develop a relationship with your team members and leaders begin to emerge, it’s a good time to think about who might be willing to take over certain duties.
First, look at what you aren’t good at and what you don’t enjoy doing. You may be surprised to find that there are already people on your team that have complementary strengths and interests to you. They might even jump at the chance to contribute on a bigger scale.
If both you and your staff are burned out, and you can’t hire more people, then it’s time to think outside the box. You might consider bringing on a part-time personal assistant, or hire an overseas virtual assistant to take care of simple duties. You could also find low-cost software to automate various marketing tasks or other aspects of your business.
You aren’t taking any vacations, you aren’t getting enough sleep, you’re doing too much, and you aren’t eating well or working out. That might be a bit of an exaggeration, but burnout is often the combination of many factors, not just one.
If you trust your team, you shouldn’t have any problem taking time off or delegating responsibilities. If you find yourself pushing back, it might be because you don’t have the right people handling the right things in your business.
Restructuring your team might not involve firing or replacing people (although in some cases it will). It would mean putting people into roles they enjoy and thrive in, promoting others, reevaluating what tasks are essential to your business, and which could be automated or even eliminated completely.
It’s also possible that you’ll need to bring on new staff to meet present demand.
So, you’re open from 10 AM to 11 PM (hypothetical example). But here’s a question worth asking – have you ever thought about why you’re open during those hours?
Do you miss out on valuable business if you aren’t open all day, or are you choosing to stay open longer “just in case”?
If you don’t feel like you can offer your best service by staying open all day, then it’s time to rethink your hours. You could be working less and generating better results. If your restaurant has been open for any length of time, there’s a good chance you already know when your peak hours are.
Talk to your staff about it, and be open about the changes you’re thinking about implementing. Ask for their feedback. You may discover that your team members feel the same way you do, and that they could use a bit of a break.
Burnout can happen to anyone. But if you’re constantly burning out, or if you’re always feeling exhausted, it’s because you’ve consistently chosen that path instead of considering the alternatives.
It’s time to look at things from a new perspective. Get rid of any negativity that’s weighing you down, and begin to surround yourself with positive, supportive people that can offer insights to help you take your business to the next level.