Top Of The Table

Christopher De Voss

Oct. 14, 2001

Losing our cool…we all have bad moments in this business. It just cannot be helped. When you deal with so many different types of people, in so many different walks of life, sooner or later someone is going to rub you the wrong way.

How you handle yourself in times of stress in the work place reflects a lot on you. It reflects a lot on your work ethic and your professionalism. I've seen people go really off the deep end. I've seen them throw things, scream, cry, and punch. Not good.

I like to pride myself on how level headed I can be, but I'm no saint. I've gotten very angry over the years, but for the most part I am either very silent in times of stress, or very moving. By moving, I mean I look, act, and think busy. I'm a blur in motion, like a comic book character. Flash! Or maybe more like a really fast Blob.

Recently, a friend has gotten fired for punching a computer. Remember this is not good strategy. Here are some conventional and non-conventional tips for de-stressing yourself in important times.

First the no brainier and conventional:

Breathe and Count, take a moment and stop. I don't care how weeded you are, take 5 seconds and collect your thoughts. A good thought to keep: A lot of the people you wait on do not know how the restaurant is supposed to work. They may not even notice things are collapsing all around you, as long as their food is not taking 30 minutes. Try to act like whatever flow is happening at the moment, is the norm. If your not freaked, they won't be freaked either.

Now the unconventional:

Flip off the computer or guest's check. Give it the bird. Remember flip off the Guest's check, not the Guest's wife. Do this in private.

Scream in the walk-in cooler, preferably the freezer so no one can hear you.

Sing the chorus of your favorite song, or sing a song you hate.

Bring a small stuffed "stress" animal and punch and/or kick it every once in awhile.

Bring a bag of M&M's and every time you lose your temper, throw away an M&M, eat the remaining at the end of the night…if there is any.

Quote movies.

Dance.

Treat yourself to something on really bad nights. It can be small like an ice cream cone, or a beer, or beer ice cream.

Come to this web site at the end of your shift. You can even demand access to the web site if your restaurant is on the web. A lot of restaurant companies use AOL to keep in touch with their different branches, so don't laugh they might have Internet access and are not telling you. Demand this as one of your civil liberties.

Whatever happens, my best advise is at the end of the night, leave all your troubles in the restaurant. A consultant friend once taught that all your problems go away after you pass under the red exit sign. Never take your work home with you, and if you do this, your waiter dreams will go away too.

You are in control of your station, even when outside forces are wreaking havoc with you; the kitchen is late, the busser is slow, and the hostess is not paying attention. Reassure your guests, and yourself, that everything is fine, and guess what?
Everything will be fine.