Most restaurants treat shift change like a relay race handoff.
Quick. Efficient. Get it done.
But what if those ten minutes before service and five minutes after could cut your turnover in half?
I’ve witnessed it transform an entire culture by changing two things:
- How the team started their shift.
- How they ended it.
No consultants. No rebrand. No bullshit team-building retreats.
Just intentional moments that said:
“You matter here.”
Here’s the kicker: Those two moments, before and after service, are where trust, communication, and retention actually begin.
Grab the Pre/Post-Shift Framework to start testing it in your restaurant this week. CLICK HERE
Before Service: The Difference Between Surviving and Thriving
Pre-shift used to be a data dump.
86’d items. VIP tables. Push the halibut.
Now?
It starts with one question:
“How are you showing up today?”
Not “how are you?” – that gets you “fine.”
But “how are you SHOWING UP?”
That gets you truth.
“Exhausted but ready.”
“Anxious about that 12-top.”
“Solid. Let’s do this.”
Takes 30 seconds per person.
Changes everything.
Because when someone says they’re struggling BEFORE service starts, you can actually help.
Move them to a different station.
Pair them with your strongest team member.
Give them the support they need to succeed.
Instead of watching them crash and burn at 8pm.
Try This: Add a quick pre-service check-in to your lineup using CHOW – Culinary Hospitality Outreach & Wellness Pre-Shift Temperature Take. It’s simple, powerful, and helps build awareness without slowing down service…. AND it’s written in an industry language that is digestible and relatable.
The Energy Reset That Nobody Talks About
Here’s what I learned working in restaurants for 25 years:
Your energy is contagious as fuck.
Walk into pre-shift stressed? Your team absorbs it.
Show up scattered? They mirror it.
Bring chaos? You get chaos back.
So before you lead pre-shift, take 60 seconds:
- Check yourself: What energy am I carrying?
- Reset if needed: Breathe. Ground. Adjust.
- Set intention: What does my team need from me today?
I know it sounds woo-woo.
But I’ve watched managers transform their entire service by changing their pre-shift energy.
When you regulate your nervous system before service, you regulate the room.
Need help grounding before or after a busy service? Try the Nervous System Reset After Service —> a free, five-minute tool for hospitality professionals to decompress and recover after the rush. CLICK HERE
After Service: Where Recovery Actually Happens
Post-shift used to mean one thing: shift drinks.
Mandatory bonding over bottles.
Now the smart operators are doing something different.
Five minutes. That’s all.
“What went well tonight?”
“What was hard?”
“What do you need before you go home?”
Not therapy. Just humanity.
One server told me:
“First time in 15 years someone asked what I needed after a brutal shift. I almost cried.”
She’s still there two years later.
Why This Actually Works
Psychological safety isn’t built in annual reviews.
It’s built in daily moments.
When you create space for people to be human, before and after the chaos, you’re saying:
“I see you as more than a body running food.”
That’s what keeps people.
Not ping pong tables. Not free meals. Not even better pay (though pay them well too).
It’s knowing someone gives a shit about how they start and end their day.
Want to talk about it? CLICK HERE
The Numbers Don’t Lie
We’ve seen it first hand:
- Turnover drops from 71% to 28% in one year
- Savings of $47,000 in hiring costs
- Guest satisfaction scores up 23%
All from 15 minutes a day of intentional connection.
Try This Tomorrow
Start your next pre-shift with intention:
- Take one breath together (yes, really)
- Ask: “What’s one thing we want to nail tonight?”
- Watch how the energy shifts
End with acknowledgment:
- “What’s one win from tonight?”
- “What are you leaving in the restaurant?”
- Let them decompress before they drive home
Small shifts. Massive impact.
Because here’s the truth nobody wants to admit:
We’re not just managing restaurants.
We’re managing human beings who happen to work in restaurants.
And humans need more than a schedule and a section.
They need to know they matter.
Before the tickets start printing.
After the last table leaves.
Every. Single. Shift.
Ready to Build a Culture Where People Actually Want to Show Up?
Drop “SHIFT” in the comments or send a quick message, and I’ll share the Pre/Post-Shift Framework that’s helped dozens of restaurants cut turnover in half.
Because the best time to support your team isn’t during the rush, it’s before and after.
For the love of hospitality,
