I'm Joan Hutchinson, Your Restaurant Maven. I love the restaurant industry- I've been in hospitality over 30 years! A former restaurant owner myself, I've been there - washing dishes, running food, hosting and serving to cover the staff that chose not to show up that day. The feeling of being overworked and under appreciated seeps into your skin, affecting your attitude and making it hard to be a positive force for the crew that does show up.

I remember thinking, "If we could just find someone to fill in the gaps, if someone would just stand here and wash dishes, that's all I need to get through this"...That isn't the answer. You need to find the right people so you aren't constantly interviewing and training people who don't stay anyway!

I decided to be proactive and create a hiring process that works, along with a team building framework, creating an environment where my team feels respected and appreciated. I knew that was the answer, building a team that WANTS to come to work and feels like they are part of the success of the restaurant. Those happy team members are the best "help wanted" ad there is! I did it - I have a full staff of happy employees - and YOU CAN TOO!