Want a Real Vacation? Your Team Needs This First

As you may have seen, we have been promoting our 7 Day away challenge for the last few weeks.  

So why haven’t you booked your vacation yet?

Not just a few days away.  A REAL vacation?  

If we are honest, there is only 1 reason you are not planning the vacation you deserve this summer.  Your team.

Which brings us to the BIG question.  The one we are sometimes afraid to ask.

How do I know if my management team is able to perform without me?

In our FOODIFY method, we believe this is part of a larger question.  A question that exists even after summer vacation season is over.

How do we incorporate a system for evaluating the top level management team in your organization on a weekly basis?

As part of our FOODIFY method, we believe that evaluating whether your restaurant general manager (GM) is doing a good job requires looking at both quantitative results and qualitative leadership behaviors. Here’s an outline of a comprehensive framework for evaluating your management team:

1. Financial Performance

• Sales growth: Are sales steadily increasing or meeting forecasted targets?

• Labor cost control: Are labor percentages within acceptable standards for your organization?

• Food cost management: Is food waste minimized, and COGS controlled?

• Profit margins: Are net profits in line with expectations?

• Inventory accuracy: Are they conducting regular counts and reducing shrinkage?

Foodify Tip: Compare against defined targets for your establishment that have been set and approved based on your budget and overall profit targets for the current month.

2. Team Leadership

• Low turnover: Happy teams stick around. Is your staff retention strong?

• Training & development: Are new hires onboarded properly? Are there growth paths?

• Accountability: Do they coach, discipline, and lead by example?

• Team morale: Is the culture healthy and productive?

Foodify Tip: Ask team members anonymously how they feel about the GM’s leadership.

3. Guest Experience

• Online reviews: Is the restaurant consistently receiving 4.5–5 stars?

• Complaint resolution: Are guest issues handled quickly and professionally?

• Mystery shopper or secret diner reports: Are standards upheld under pressure?

Foodify Tip: Customer satisfaction is a direct reflection of how well the GM runs the show.

4. Operational Efficiency

• Cleanliness and organization: Is the restaurant always guest-ready?

• Health inspection scores: Are scores consistently high (90+)?

• Scheduling efficiency: Are shifts well-covered without excessive labor costs?

• Compliance: Are safety protocols and labor laws followed?

Foodify Tip: Look at how they manage time, systems, and staff coverage.

5. Initiative & Ownership

• Problem-solving: Do they proactively solve problems without needing constant input?

• Goal setting: Do they set and track goals with the team?

• Communication: Are they responsive, clear, and transparent with both staff and ownership?

• Adaptability: How well do they handle busy weekends, short staffing, or emergencies?

If you feel overwhelmed at the idea of evaluating your management team based on all of these factors, we can help!  Did you know that our FOODIFY method is the proven method for improving management team performance in 30 days or less?