|
|
E-mail: [email protected] |
Harry Nobles & Cheryl Thompson, July 2002
It may be an overstatement to say that timing is everything.
In making so broad and absolute an assertion, one implies that nothing
else really matters. While timing is important, it is only one of
many elements of guest service. Perhaps it would be more accurate
to say that timing is a critical part of service delivery, and one that
dramatically affects overall guest satisfaction. One might argue
that poor timing alone can denigrate or even spoil an otherwise excellent
guest-employee interaction.
On recent consulting projects in Asia and Mexico, we were reminded how poor timing alone can adversely affect an otherwise excellent dining experience. In several world class restaurants in Thailand we noted the staff�s apparent inability to properly coordinate simultaneous delivery of appetizers and main courses. A delay of several minutes between appetizers being served was not unusual. The same was true of main course service. It was not unusual for one guest�s order to be served very promptly, and the other�s to be served much later. This was not always the case: timing was frequently excellent. A more noticeable service flaw involved the offer of dessert and check presentation. Service often literally ceased after the main course was served. Heretofore attentive and professional staff appeared to forsake all attempts at follow up service at this point. Repeated requests for beverage refill, the dessert menu, after dinner drinks, or the check often went unanswered. One might surmise that because the tip is often automatically included in the check has an adverse effect on service. Given the traditional Oriental attitude toward service, we came to a different conclusion Our professional assessment of this phenomenon is that it may be more a bilateral cultural thing .. In Thailand we noticed that the majority of western tourists were not American, but European. While Europeans tend to dine at a more leisurely pace, the typical American guests are in more of a hurry to complete the meal, pay the check, and depart. The other cultural component is the Oriental concept of service and aversion to rushing the guest. Despite the possible negative impression of slow service, one must admit that this is a refreshing change from the perception of being rushed by the wait staff to turn the table. The Mexican experience was somewhat similar, particularly in regard to check presentation. While guests� orders were generally properly timed and served, service often waned after the main course. We concluded their perceived delay in offering dessert reflected a hesitancy to hasten the check settlement and guest departure. We interpreted this as a cultural aversion to creating the impression that the guests were being rushed. Again a welcome change from the too frequent sense of being rushed that one often encounters in many U.S. restaurants. In both situations, the �timing� problem might be at least partially solved by training the staff to more accurately read the guest and determine when additional service, and ultimately the check, should be proffered. This educational process must be achieved without denigrating the current service level. Employees must be trained to provide attentive and consistent, yet unobtrusive service that assures maximum guest satisfaction. Timing is an important component of this type service; guest observation and accurate interpretation of subtle messages are an essential part of timing. These experiences and observations are intended to demonstrate and reinforce the premise that proper timing of service delivery is critical to guest satisfaction. If poor timing can detract from the level of guest satisfaction, the obvious question is can excellent timing compensate for other service deficiencies? Perhaps more precisely, how much can excellent timing compensate? Even the most perfect timing of service delivery cannot offset other service flaws. An incorrectly prepared dish served with perfect timing by a most cordial and professional waiter is not improved. An incorrect room reservation accessed immediately by the most cordial desk clerk is still incorrect. If this be the case, what does proper timing accomplish? In some cases, a well timed sincere comment or thoughtful action can prevent a bad situation from becoming even worse. Timing can sometimes bolster and enhance the illusion of a positive guest experience. Timing may sometimes help to mollify a disgruntled guest. While proper timing can never totally negate an unpleasant guest experience, it can influence the guest�s attitude in a positive way. On the other hand, poor timing can ruin an otherwise excellent guest experience. Late delivery of a well prepared meal, slow response to a guest�s request, or failure to render any service promptly can have the unfortunate effect of canceling out all the things done well. What are some components needed to achieve proper timing of guest service delivery? Properly timed service delivery requires training, the proper equipment, a positive attitude, and teamwork. The absence of any one of these can make it very difficult if not impossible to achieve proper timing. What makes employees appreciate the critical importance of timing? Employees� attitude toward guest service is greatly influenced by their perception of management�s attitude. If they perceive that management is serious about timely response to employee issues, they may well be more sensitive to timely response to guests� needs. The opposite is equally true. What encourages and motivates employees to strive for excellent timing in every guest-employee interaction? Reward and recognition can be very positive factors. Constant encouragement, effective training, and required resources are also essential. In summary, an employee�s attitude toward the importance of timing, and dedication to that goal will usually reflect the perceived message from management. What message are you sending? |
Harry Nobles Hospitality Consulting
Credentials:
|