I could never pick a least favorite post of yours @reonlouw.

I realize that I speak of my work life often in my posts but I must use it again as a bit of an analogy.

In my restaurant, I'm often training people how to do the prerequisite tasks that our particular business requires. I fill their brains with a long list of things that are expected of them. I'm giving them the knowledge to be part of the team.

When I'm training them, I always let them know that I won't be telling them how to approach a table but to pay attention to the way I go about it. I have a bit of a practiced spiel that varies with the party I'm approaching. I've learned to read the body language and know pretty quickly whether or not I should be all business and just relay the facts or make a few jokes and get them feeling right at home. I always tell my trainee that I'm going for the best gratuity I can possibly get. I want them to strive to make more than a twenty percent tip. I never stop moving and I'm always trying to anticipate whatever the customer might need before they have to ask for it. It's a tried and true approach that I'm constantly trying to improve. This is me imparting my wisdom and it's always morphing.

It's kind of funny and sad at the same time when I hear the staff complain about not receiving a great tip. I understand that sometimes it will be the guest is either tight fisted with the wallet or they just have the type of attitude that looks down on our chosen profession. Often times though my first thought is what could the server have done to make the guest leave a small gratuity. Was the server attentive enough or were they hiding and playing with their phone. Were they personable enough or were they doing the bare minimum to get the party in and out for the next group to come in. I want to ask these and other questions all the time but I'm the wisest when I just keep my mouth shut. I see a few follow my logic and do quite well and I see others that are constantly complaining over poor tips.

I guess my point, which you also related, is that you can give people all the knowledge you can but what they do with it shows their true wisdom.

Visiting by way of Kryptonia