Running a successful restaurant can be tough. Here are the top skills you need to double down on to keep you ahead of the competition.

Technology skills

With technology and AI becoming a big part of every industry, it’s crucial for restaurant managers to excel in the following areas:

1. Software selection

Picking the right software makes a huge difference in how your team operates. The ideal tools can help you streamline your day-to-day operations, automate repetitive tasks, and even give you detailed insights into how your restaurant is doing financially.

Choose a solution that’s tailored to the food and beverage industry. For example, Lark offers a suite of tools that can help you run your restaurant. These include:

• Lark Attendance: Streamlines employee scheduling and time tracking

• Lark Messenger, Lark Meetings, and Lark Minutes: Keep your team connected with communication and meeting tools that even have automatic transcriptions

• Lark Base: Simplifies inventory management, sales tracking, and other important tasks via automation

• Lark Docs: Makes it easy to create, edit, and share documents like onboarding materials and standard operating procedures (SOPs)

  
  

2. Software proficiency

Learn to speak the language of your restaurant's technology. This means understanding how to use your POS system, inventory management software, and the other tools you use.

Mastering these things allows you to make informed decisions about staffing, menu items, and strategies. You may also uncover hidden opportunities for cost savings and operational improvements.

3. Staff training

Empower your team to become tech-savvy. Training your staff to use your restaurant’s software and tools correctly ensures that your establishment will run without unnecessary hiccups. Specifically, well-trained staff can quickly troubleshoot issues, process orders accurately, and provide a memorable experience for your diners.

Leadership skills

How well your team and restaurant function depends largely on how you lead them. Successful restaurant managers should develop the following soft skills:

4. Interpersonal relationship skills

Building strong relationships takes time and effort, but it pays off with a loyal and motivated team.

Practice active listening and open communication, and adapt your leadership style to each situation. Lead and support your employees in the way they each need you to, not in the way you think is best.

5. Effective communication

It’s simple — a connected team is a productive team. Whether in the kitchen, in the front of the house, or behind the scenes, when everyone communicates effectively, everything in the restaurant flows smoothly.

Communication keeps your team on the same page. It’s essential to learn how to provide information, orders, and expectations clearly so that everyone knows their roles and responsibilities.

Use Lark Meetings to quickly touch base, announce company-wide updates, and coordinate promotions for cross-branch communication.

6. Conflict resolution skills

When you have a diverse team, conflict is inevitable — but it doesn't have to be destructive. In fact, healthy conflict can lead to better solutions and stronger team bonds.

It’s up to you, as a restaurant manager, to resolve those conflicts. Addressing workplace disputes requires empathy, active listening, and the ability to find common ground.

Create a safe space for people to share different perspectives, and encourage your team members to brainstorm solutions together. If necessary, act as a mediator to guide discussions and resolve any tensions.

7. Motivation and team-building

Inspire your team to do their best work and work toward common goals. This means creating a positive and supportive work environment where everyone feels valued and empowered.

You can do this by recognizing and rewarding achievements and providing growth opportunities that align with individual career aspirations. The goal is to create a team that's passionate about the restaurant's success and works together to achieve shared and personal goals.

8. Training and development

Investing in your employees is an investment in your restaurant's future.

Provide your employees with training resources and send them on restaurant-related courses, such as sommelier courses, barista workshops, or culinary classes. Doing so not only benefits them but also enhances the quality and professionalism of your restaurant.

Financial and business-oriented skills

The success of your restaurant ultimately comes down to how much profit you make. Developing these financial management skills will help you keep your restaurant sustainable:

9. Budget management

How much does that signature dish cost to make? How much did we spend on that Mother’s Day email marketing campaign? You should be able to answer these questions.

Budget management includes every financial aspect of your business, from food costs to the impact of staffing decisions.

With a clear understanding of your budget, you can make more informed decisions on menu pricing, staffing, and even when to invest in new equipment or expand your business.

10. Market analysis

What’s hot and not so hot in your neighborhood? Knowing what resonates with your diners and what will fail in your local market helps you stay relevant and competitive.

Tailor your menu, marketing promotions, and overall strategy to meet the needs and desires of your target audience. For example, if a plant-based cuisine is all the rage, consider offering plant-based variations of your most popular dishes.

11. Bookkeeping and accounting

Accurate and up-to-date financial records give you a clear view of your restaurant’s financial situation at all times.

You should understand the basics of bookkeeping and accounting or hire a professional bookkeeper or accountant to make sure everything is accurate and compliant.

Proper bookkeeping lets you track your income and expenses, monitor cash flow, and prepare for tax season.

12. Cost control

Every penny counts when you’re managing a restaurant. So, get into the habit of tracking every expense, no matter how small it seems.

Lark Base acts like your personal financial advisor. You can get real-time insights into your spending, sales trends, and potential areas for savings. Make data-driven decisions that keep your food costs in check.

13. Revenue management

Revenue management is all about getting the most out of your restaurant's earning potential. Where does your money come from — dine-in or takeout?

When do you get the most customers? Find out your most profitable times and offerings so that you can maximize profits. Analyze your sales data to identify your peak hours, most popular dishes, and best-selling add-ons.

With this knowledge, you can tweak your menu to feature more profitable dishes or offer happy hour promotions. You may also want to test out new income streams, like delivery partnerships, to increase your revenue.

Customer service skills

Satisfy customers and keep them coming back with these customer service skills:

14. Customer experience management

Besides having memorable food, customers will remember how they were treated in your restaurant. So, make sure you have a clear set of standards and expectations to guide your team in creating a pleasant dining experience for them.

In the hit FX series, The Bear, for example, Richie strives to elevate each customer’s experience by focusing on their preferences and other details. In doing so, he creates a personalized and memorable experience.

15. Complaint handling

Knowing how to handle customer complaints gracefully and effectively is an art. Developing strong interpersonal skills and emotional intelligence is essential for diffusing tense situations.

Mistakes will happen, but how you handle customer complaints makes a big difference. A sincere apology, a willingness to listen, and a quick resolution to a customer complaint can often turn a dissatisfied customer into a loyal one.

But this doesn’t mean that the customer is always right. In extreme or abusive situations, it's important to protect your staff and maintain a safe environment for everyone.

16. Hospitality and etiquette

Turn ordinary meals into extraordinary experiences with great customer service. Each interaction with your customers should be consistent and leave a positive impression.

Your hospitality style can change depending on your restaurant’s brand and clientele. While formality and perfection are usually expected at a Michelin star restaurant, a mom and pop establishment can shine in its own way, with friendly and personable customer service.

Operational skills

The skills below are essentially what keep a restaurant afloat. Master them to keep your restaurant operating like a well-oiled grill:

17. Inventory management

Inventory management is one of those things that can drastically improve how you run your restaurant. It ensures you have enough ingredients on hand to meet customer demand, while also minimizing waste and spoilage.

Make sure you or a designated employee is keeping track of inventory levels and restocking demands. Or simplify the process with Lark’s inventory management template.

Accurate inventory tracking also helps you identify trends in ingredient usage so you can make the right choices about purchasing and menu planning.

18. Quality control

Dining at your restaurant shouldn’t be a game of roulette. Quality control ensures consistency and excellence in each dish, drink, and interaction.

Consistently high-quality food and customer service will help you build a loyal clientele who trust your brand and recommend it to others.

19. Health and safety compliance

Protect your customers, staff, and reputation by always staying diligent and compliant with health and safety regulations. Establish SOPs for proper food handling, storage, and cleaning. Additionally, remember to train all your staff on proper procedures.

Moreover, regularly review and update your protocols to stay compliant with industry best practices.

20. Scheduling

Scheduling employee shifts is kind of like playing tetris — having the right people in the right places at the right times.

On one hand, you have to control labor costs. But on the other, you need to make sure you staff enough people during peak hours so you won’t be short on hands.

With Lark’s employee schedule template, you can easily create, adjust, and share schedules with your team.

21. Adaptability

The restaurant industry can be chaotic, so remaining flexible and adaptable is important. Be it unexpected rushes, staff shortages, or last-minute dietary accommodations, you need to be able to take challenges in stride.

Start each day with a "what if" exercise. Imagine a few potential problems, and brainstorm solutions to them. This prepares you to react quickly and confidently if something does happen.

22. Problem-solving

As a restaurant manager, you may have to put out fires occasionally — either literally or metaphorically.

Train yourself to quickly identify problems and get comfortable with making decisions. You can practice this by reflecting on past mistakes and planning for similar scenarios in the future.