A 2 min read.

Picture this: You're standing in your bustling kitchen during a busy dinner service when suddenly, a gut feeling tells you to check on the new sous chef. Without any obvious reason, you follow that instinct. When you arrive, you find them struggling on the line, nearing the edge of a meltdown or walkout. Your timely intervention not only saves the night but also strengthens your relationship with your team.

Running a restaurant isn’t just about the day-to-day grind; it's about tapping into your inner resources to make decisions that can elevate your business and develop your team. While data and logic are vital, there's another powerful tool at your disposal—your intuition. Learning to harness and trust your intuition can lead to more inspired choices, smoother operations, and a stronger, more cohesive team. Here’s how developing your intuition can make a significant difference in your restaurant.

What Is Intuition?

Intuition is often described as a gut feeling or an inner knowing that guides your decisions without conscious reasoning. It's that quiet voice that tells you to hire a particular person, change a menu item, or address an unseen issue in the dining room before it escalates. Developing this skill can provide you with a competitive edge in the restaurant industry.

If you’d like help developing your leadership skills, let’s connect at christinmarvin.com/contact

Why Intuition Matters

1. Better Decision-Making: Intuition can help you make quicker and more confident decisions, especially in high-pressure situations.

   - Example: During a chaotic service, you might sense that a new dish or cocktail needs to be pulled from the menu for the night. Trusting your gut, you make the call, preventing potential customer dissatisfaction and maintaining the evening's flow.

2. Enhanced Leadership: A leader who trusts their intuition is often seen as more decisive and confident.

   - Example: When a valued team member asks for feedback, your intuition helps you deliver constructive criticism in a way that motivates rather than discourages them. This builds respect and trust within your team.

3. Improved Staff Development: Your intuition can guide you in identifying the strengths and weaknesses of your team members, allowing you to provide better support and opportunities for growth.

   - Example: You have a feeling that one of your servers, bartenders or hosts has management potential. Despite their lack of experience, you start mentoring them, and they quickly prove to be a capable and enthusiastic leader, enhancing your team's overall performance.

How to Develop Your Intuition

Here are some practical steps you can take to tap into your inner knowing:

1. Meditation and Mindfulness: Regularly practicing meditation can quiet your mind, creating space to make it easier to hear your intuitive thoughts. Even 5 minutes a day can make a big difference.

2. Pay Attention to Your Gut Feelings: Start noticing when you have gut feelings and take note of the outcomes when you follow them. This practice can help you become more attuned to your intuitive signals. Start small and practice making gut decisions in your personal life.
3. Reflect on Past Decisions: Think about times when you’ve made decisions based on intuition. What was the result? Reflecting on these instances can build your confidence in trusting your gut.

4. Journal Your Thoughts: Writing down your thoughts and feelings can help you clarify your intuitive hunches. Journaling can be a powerful tool for accessing your inner wisdom.

5. Spend Time in Nature: Nature has a way of grounding us and connecting us to our inner selves. Take regular walks or spend time outdoors to clear your mind and boost your intuition.

6. Seek Silence: In the hustle and bustle of restaurant life, finding moments of silence can be challenging but crucial. Create small pockets of quiet time during your day to listen to your inner voice.

7. Trust Yourself: Building intuition is about building trust in yourself. The more you rely on your intuition, the stronger it will become.

Putting Intuition into Practice

Imagine you’re considering a significant menu change. The data might show that certain items aren’t performing well, but your intuition could tell you that a twist on a classic favorite might just be what your customers crave. Or perhaps you sense that a team member, though struggling now, has great potential if given the right support. Acting on these intuitive insights can lead to breakthroughs that data alone might not predict.

Developing your intuition isn’t about ignoring facts and figures; it's about complimenting them with a deeper, more instinctual understanding of your business and team. By honing this skill, you can make more balanced, inspired decisions that can propel your restaurant to new heights.

Start today by taking small steps to listen to your inner voice. You might be surprised at the clarity and direction it can provide.

Interested in learning more about intuitive leadership? I can help. Let’s connect at christinlmarvin@gmail.com

P.S. 

For more leadership development, here are some additional resources for you:

1. Tune into the No Hesitations Podcast Episode 32 : How to Lead with Clarity : 5 Strategies for Effective Restaurant Management

2. Contact me for a strategy session about overcoming your biggest challenge at christinlmarvin@gmail.com and start transforming your mindset, your restaurant, and your life today!