We hire for character, train for skill. The training program assumes the new hire WANTS to be excellent — we provide the structure, the standards, and the feedback.
Three principles:
Skills are teachable. Drink builds, food specs, wine knowledge — these are learnable in 14 days. Trust the process; trust the curriculum.
Standards are non-negotiable. Greeting in 30 seconds, eye contact, garnish discipline, allergen verification — these are not aspirational; they are the floor. If a trainee can't hit them by Day 14, the role isn't for them.
The coach is a teacher, not a critic. The floor coach's job is to make the trainee succeed, not to find fault. Real-time correction is kind. End-of-shift debrief is generous. The trainee should leave Day 14 feeling ready, not beat-up.