Asking clearly for what I wanted, helped.
But it was never as effective as tangible, passonable shorthand that ignited conversation about universal standards.
Something visual.
Simple.
Real.
Like drinking straws.
The easiesthardest job I ever had was managing McDonald’s Restaurants.
It was the easiest job I ever had because, at 23 years old, I was too daft to be scared of managing a four million pound turnover business, leading 40 people, and twiddling with a P&L.
(At 23, I didn’t know what P&L stood for. I just knew the area manager was happy if – each month – this number was bigger than that number).
And it was the hardest job I ever had because – well – it was hard. Firing formulaic food from one end of a 20 metre long kitchen to the other, for 12 continual hours, out into a clean dining area – profitably. Whist stopping 40 young people from fighting or fornicating – was hard.
After a year or so managing one restaurant, they sent me to my next one. So my next restaurant reached the same standard as my last restaurant.
What was I doing to achieve this dubious accolade and recognition?
A few things probably.
But one thing I always did, was say this to my shift managers,
“If just one customer asks us for a straw.
Because there are no straws in the dining area.
You’ve had a shit shift.”
This was, of course, shorthand.
For clean tables.
Fast food.
Fresh brewed coffee.
A full milkshake machine.
Sauce where sauce was needed.
Empty bins.
Everything.
The straws thing meant getting ahead of the customer.
And it was always nice to hear shift managers repeating, word-for-word to the team, the straw thing.
It triggered great conversations.
Asking clearly for what I wanted, helped.
But it was never as effective as tangible, passonable shorthand that ignited conversation about universal standards.
Something visual.
Simple.
Real.
Like drinking straws.