A Great Coach isn't Always the Best Player: Creating an Effective Server Training Program in your Startup Restaurant

Duke University's Mike Krzyzewski is one of the greatest college basketball coaches of all time. In fact, his mentoring and leadership skills have earned him a place as a faculty member at Duke's prestigious Fuqua School of Business.

While "Coach K," as he is known to his players and fans, was a standout basketball player in college, he was not a superstar. It is his coaching skill, not his personal performance on the court, that is his claim to glory.

Some of the best servers do not have the interest or personality to train others. In these cases, you don't want to divert top servers from doing what best benefits themselves and your establishment -- serving. -- Susan Dickson

In some ways, great servers have something in common with great college basketball players. They're only as good as their last performance, they're on the floor night after night, and when they're learning the ropes, it often takes outstanding coaching to turn raw ability into top talent.

If you think the best person on your team to train your servers is your top server, consider Coach K. When it comes to selecting trainers, if you scout your trainer prospects based solely on their talent as a server, (e.g. how much money they bring in or how many guest compliments they receive) you might want to rethink your criteria.

Some of the best servers do not have the interest or personality to train others. In these cases, you don't want to divert top servers from doing what best benefits themselves and your establishment -- serving. You also don't want to overlook good training talent by ignoring the attributes of a great coach.

In this article, we will identify the characteristics of solid server trainers who can help you build a winning serving team. We'll also look at other resources that can assist you with the training process, including bringing in consultants during the startup phase.