How to Create a Strong Bar Team
What Makes a Good Bar Team?
A good bar team works well when all staff help each other. When you run a bar, the team must be strong. A strong team makes guests happy. Happy guests come back more.
Let’s learn how to make your bar team the best it can be. This will help your bar make more money.
Table of Contents
Getting the Right People on Your Team
First, you need to hire good people. Look for:
- People who smile a lot
- Staff who can work fast
- Folks who know about drinks
When you find good people, your team will be better. Good staff use bar tools the right way.
Our bar teams that use good ice buckets work faster. The right tools help your team do a good job.
Training Your Team the Right Way
A good bar team needs good training. When you train your staff well, they do better work.
Here is how to train your bar team:
- Show them how to use all bar tools
- Teach them about all drinks
- Help them learn how to be nice to guests
- Make sure they know how to work fast
Good training helps stop waste. A study shows that bars can cut waste by 30% when staff use smart tools to pour drinks.
Training Topics for Your Bar Team
| What to Train | Why It Matters | How It Helps |
|---|---|---|
| How to pour drinks | Makes all drinks the same | Less waste |
| How to be nice to guests | Makes guests happy | More tips |
| How to use bar tools | Work gets done faster | More sales |
| How to fix problems | Less stress when things go wrong | Team stays happy |
When bar staff learn to use good bar mats, they keep the bar clean. Clean bars make more money.
Making Your Bar Space Work Well
Your bar needs a good layout. When things are in the right spot, work is easy.
A smart bar has:
- Drinks in easy reach
- Tools where staff need them
- Space to move around
- Clean work spots
Bars that fix their space work 29% faster in busy times. Fast work means more happy guests.
Bar Setup Tips
- Put ice close to where drinks are made
- Keep clean cups where they’re easy to grab
- Make sure the cash box is easy to use
- Have trash cans where staff need them
Good bar tools like bar coasters keep the bar clean and dry. This makes work faster.
Helping Your Team Work Well Together
A strong bar team talks to each other. They help each other when work gets busy.
Here’s how to make your team work well:
- Have team talks before each shift
- Make clear jobs for each person
- Teach staff to help each other
- Say “good job” when staff do well
When teams know what to do when things break, they fix problems 58% faster.
Using Smart Ways to Track Work
Good bar teams use smart tools to see how work is going. These tools show who is doing a good job.
Smart tools can:
- Show how fast drinks are made
- Tell you when stock is low
- Track who sells the most
- See which drinks sell best
Bars who use these tools cut staff costs by 22%.
Making a Plan for When Things Go Wrong
Things go wrong in bars. Cups break. Drinks spill. Guests get mad.
A strong bar team knows what to do when bad things happen.
Make plans for:
- What to do when drinks run out
- How to help mad guests
- What to do when tools break
- Who to call when help is needed
Teams that practice what to do in bad times fix problems much faster.
Teaching Your Team About Bar Tools
Bar staff need to know how to use all tools well. When they know the tools, they work faster.
Good tools to teach about:
- Drink mixers
- Ice buckets
- Pour spouts
- Bar mats
- Drink shakers
When bar staff learn new tools fast, training time drops by 76%.
Making Guests Happy
The best bar teams make guests happy. Happy guests come back and bring friends.
Teach your team to:
- Smile at all guests
- Learn guest names
- Make drinks the same way each time
- Say thanks when guests leave
Bars that use the five-step way to help guests see 41% more happy guests.
The five steps are:
- Say hi
- Tell guests about good drinks
- Make sure they like the drink
- Bring the drink fast
- Ask if they want more later
Keeping Track of Money
A strong bar team knows money matters. They must not waste things.
Ways to save money:
- Use tools to pour the right amount
- Don’t break glasses
- Keep track of all drinks sold
- Make sure guests pay
Bars that watch their tools closely spend 19% less on fixing things each year.
Working With Good Drink Suppliers
Your bar needs good drinks to sell. A good bar team works well with drink sellers.
Look for suppliers who:
- Bring drinks on time
- Have good prices
- Help when you need more fast
- Tell you about new drinks
Working with good tool makers can help make new things 3 weeks faster.
Making Your Bar Stand Out
The best bars look special. They use things with their name on them.
Good items to put your name on:
- Bar mats that keep the bar clean
- Signs that show drink prices
- Glasses that look cool
- Staff shirts that match
These things make your bar look better than other bars.
Checking How Your Team is Doing
A strong bar team gets better each day. You need to see how they are doing.
Ways to check your team:
- Watch how they work
- Ask guests what they think
- Look at how much money comes in
- See if staff stay for a long time
When teams see how they are doing, they work harder to get better.
Why a Strong Bar Team Matters
A good bar team makes your bar do well. When your team works well, good things happen:
- More guests come in
- Guests spend more money
- Staff stay longer
- Less money is wasted
The best bars have the best teams.
Getting Started Today
You can start making your bar team stronger today:
- Talk to your team about what makes a good bar
- Find out what tools they need
- Watch how they work now
- Make a plan to get better
With the right team, tools, and plan, your bar will do very well.
