The Top 5 Things To Focus On At Pre-Shift (And What To Avoid)

Short, fun, and designed to stick.

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A great pre-shift can set the tone for the entire service. A messy one can derail it before the first guest walks in. Here are five quick, memorable tips to help your team stay aligned, energized, and ready to deliver—plus the things to avoid so your pre-shift doesn’t turn into a lecture or a chaos session.

1. Keep it Tight and Purposeful

Focus on:
A quick agenda. What do they need to know right now? Specials, 86s, VIPs, events, and any operational updates.

Avoid:
Rambling stories, long speeches, or anything that starts with “Back in my day.” Stay relevant and keep it tight.

2. Highlight the Wins

Focus on:
Celebrate someone. A great upsell. A kind gesture. A perfect table turn. Recognition boosts morale and engagement instantly.

Avoid:
Calling people out for mistakes in front of the group. Save coaching for one-on-one moments so the meeting stays motivating, not intimidating.

3. Sharpen Product Knowledge

Focus on:
Teach one small thing. A tasting note, a new ingredient, a menu tip, or a two-sentence origin story that helps the team speak confidently.

Avoid:
Trying to train the entire menu at once. They won’t remember it, and you’ll lose their attention in seconds.

4. Set One Clear Goal for the Night

Focus on:
A theme or mission for the shift. Maybe it’s selling a specific item, greeting every table within 60 seconds, or improving teamwork on running food.

Avoid:
Overloading with five goals. One mission keeps focus strong and makes improvement measurable.

5. Make It Interactive

Focus on:
Ask questions. Have someone explain the special. Do a quick role-play or “What would you do?” scenario. Engagement increases retention.

Avoid:
Turning pre-shift into a monologue. If you’re the only one speaking, half the team is already mentally clocked out.

A Quick Pre-Shift Template You Can Use Tonight

• Two-minute updates

• One win

• One menu or product tip

• One goal

• One interactive question or practice moment

Five minutes, max. High energy. High clarity. High impact.

Run your pre-shift like this and you’ll build consistency, confidence, and a team that actually looks forward to it.