--- title: How to transform your restaurant staff in to advocates description: Your hospitality staff are probably just as important as your customers - they live and breathe your business and are the people who can make your business successful. Work with them and they will become your advocates, restaurant expert, Donald Burns explains how. image: https://blog.typsy.com/hubfs/How%20to%20transform%20your%20restaurant%20team%20into%20advocates_650x350.png --- [Turn guest feedback into action with ReviewLearn ![](https://orchardcore.typsy.com/media/svg-icons-2026/arrow-right.svg)](https://www.typsy.com/platform/features/reviewlearn) ![](https://orchardcore.typsy.com/media/svg-icons-2026/user-profile-circle.svg) LOGIN [Member](https://member.typsy.com/) [Manager](https://manager.typsy.com/) | [![](https://orchardcore.typsy.com/media/svg-icons-2026/headphones-white.svg) CONTACT US](https://www.typsy.com/contact) [![Typsy Brand](https://orchardcore.typsy.com/media/typsy-public-website/New_Typsy_Logo_Red_PMS.svg)](https://www.typsy.com/) [BOOK A DEMO](https://www.typsy.com/contact/demo) [![Typsy](https://orchardcore.typsy.com/media/typsy-public-website/New_Typsy_Logo_Red_PMS.svg)](https://www.typsy.com/) [Search courses](https://www.typsy.com/discover/courses) - Platform Platform [![](https://orchardcore.typsy.com/media/svg-icons-2026/trusted-content-at-scale.svg) Trusted content at scale The world's largest and fastest-growing hospitality library.](https://www.typsy.com/platform/hospitality-training-library) [![](https://orchardcore.typsy.com/media/svg-icons-2026/global-hospitalility-credentials.svg) Global hospitality credentials Industry-recognized Typsy credentials validating real-world hospitality capability.](https://www.typsy.com/platform/hospitality-certifications) [![](https://orchardcore.typsy.com/media/svg-icons-2026/performance-intellgience.svg) Performance intelligence AI-powered intelligence that connects learning to measurable operational performance.](https://www.typsy.com/platform/performance-intelligence) [![](https://orchardcore.typsy.com/media/svg-icons-2026/hospitality-learning-operations.svg) Hospitality learning operations Infrastructure that embeds workforce capability into daily hospitality operations at scale.](https://www.typsy.com/platform/learning-operations) Innovation & Tools [![](https://orchardcore.typsy.com/media/svg-icons-2026/reviewlearn.svg) ReviewLearn](https://www.typsy.com/platform/features/reviewlearn) [![](https://orchardcore.typsy.com/media/svg-icons-2026/smartcards.svg) SmartCards](https://www.typsy.com/platform/features/smartcards) [![](https://orchardcore.typsy.com/media/svg-icons-2026/custom-content.svg) Custom content](https://www.typsy.com/platform/features/custom-content) [![](https://orchardcore.typsy.com/media/svg-icons-2026/language-translations.svg) Language translations](https://www.typsy.com/platform/features/language-translations) [![](https://orchardcore.typsy.com/media/svg-icons-2026/reporting.svg) Reporting](https://www.typsy.com/platform/features/reporting) [![](https://orchardcore.typsy.com/media/svg-icons-2026/activities.svg) Activities](https://www.typsy.com/platform/features/activities) [![](https://orchardcore.typsy.com/media/svg-icons-2026/assign-training.svg) Assign training](https://www.typsy.com/platform/features/assign-training) [![](https://orchardcore.typsy.com/media/nav_bar_svg_310x200/reviewlearn-pink.svg) ReviewLearn Turn guest reviews into targeted training automatically. TRY REVIEWLEARN](https://www.typsy.com/platform/features/reviewlearn) - Solutions By role [Owners](https://www.typsy.com/solutions/roles/hospitality-owners) [CEO](https://www.typsy.com/solutions/roles/ceo) [CFO](https://www.typsy.com/solutions/roles/cfo) [Hotel GMs & property leaders](https://www.typsy.com/solutions/roles/hotel-general-managers) [Group operations](https://www.typsy.com/solutions/roles/operations-leaders) [HR & talent](https://www.typsy.com/solutions/roles/hr-talent) [Learning & development](https://www.typsy.com/solutions/roles/learning-development) [Guest experience & quality assurance](https://www.typsy.com/solutions/roles/guest-experience-leaders) By business challenge [Accelerate onboarding](https://www.typsy.com/solutions/challenges/employee-onboarding) [Workforce engagement & retention](https://www.typsy.com/solutions/challenges/staff-engagement-retention) [Leadership development](https://www.typsy.com/solutions/challenges/leadership-development) [Compliance & risk management](https://www.typsy.com/solutions/challenges/compliance-training) [Brand consistency](https://www.typsy.com/solutions/challenges/brand-consistency) [Service quality & guest satisfaction](https://www.typsy.com/solutions/challenges/guest-experience) By organization type [Hotels, resorts & accommodation](https://www.typsy.com/solutions/industries/hotels-resorts) [Restaurant & F&B groups](https://www.typsy.com/solutions/industries/restaurants-food-service) [Hospitality operators](https://www.typsy.com/solutions/industries/hospitality-operators) [Hospitality education & training](https://www.typsy.com/solutions/industries/hospitality-schools) [![](https://orchardcore.typsy.com/media/nav_bar_image_458x444/manager-on-mobile.png) Cut onboarding time in half See how leading hospitality brands get their teams floor-ready faster. EXPLORE ONBOARDING](https://www.typsy.com/solutions/challenges/employee-onboarding) - Resources Customer success [Customer stories](https://www.typsy.com/customer-stories) [ROI calculator](https://www.typsy.com/roi-calculator) Company & expertise [About us](https://www.typsy.com/about) [Partner ecosystem](https://www.typsy.com/partners) [Industry awards](https://www.typsy.com/awards) [Blog](https://www.typsy.com/learn/blog) Platform & trust [Security & Compliance](https://www.typsy.com/platform/security-compliance) [Global scalability](https://www.typsy.com/platform/global-scalability) [Implementation & Support](https://www.typsy.com/platform/implementation-support) [![](https://orchardcore.typsy.com/media/nav_bar_svg_310x200/roi-calc.svg) Calculate Your ROI Discover exactly how much your business can save by reducing turnover and streamlining team training. TRY THE CALCULATOR](https://www.typsy.com/roi-calculator) - [Pricing](https://www.typsy.com/pricing) [SIGN UP](https://www.typsy.com/pricing) [BOOK A DEMO](https://www.typsy.com/contact/demo) [Help Center](https://intercom.help/typsy/en/)[Contact Us](https://www.typsy.com/contact) Restaurants & Bars # How to transform your restaurant staff in to advocates [Donald Burns](https://blog.typsy.com/author/donald-burns) Aug 23, 2018 --- A hype-man is a person whose main purpose is to bring the energy. They support the lead artist on stage by – as their title suggests – hyping up the crowd by dancing, rhyming, and pumping as much energy into the venue as possible. If you’re wondering where you get one of these restaurant hype-men, look no further than your restaurant staff. As the face of your brand to customers and prospective employees, your staff are in the perfect position to excite others about your restaurant, more specifically your mission and purpose. Investing the time and energy today that’s needed to transform your restaurant staff into effective hype men – in professional circles, we call them brand advocates – will yield huge benefits both in the short and long term. Here's how: ## **![How to transform your restaurant team into advocates\_650x350](https://blog.typsy.com/hs-fs/hubfs/How%20to%20transform%20your%20restaurant%20team%20into%20advocates_650x350.png?width=65075&name=How%20to%20transform%20your%20restaurant%20team%20into%20advocates_650x350.png) Why are brand advocates beneficial?** Restaurants have two customers: Internal – your staff– and external – your guests. It’s a huge misconception that your external customer is more valuable than your internal customer – that is, the people who have actually bought into your brand's mission, their time and energy into moving that same mission forward. So, why should you divert your focus from external customers and invest your time into turning your team into brand advocates? **You get big return**  As with any investment, you’re looking for a return and the stats don’t lie: Gallup's [meta-analysis of employee engagement](http://www.gallup.com/services/177047/q12-meta-analysis.aspx) shows that business units with high [employee engagement](http://www.gallup.com/services/169328/q12-employee-engagement.aspx?utm_source=gbj&utm_medium=copy&utm_campaign=20160329-gbj) have 28% less internal theft or shrinkage and 21% higher productivity. **It's a smart, cost effective business move** Staffing is a big concern for restaurant owners across the country: The United States is, at present, in the midst of a multi-industry labor short [shortage](https://pos.toasttab.com/blog/restaurant-industry-labor-shortage?utm_source=typsy&utm_medium=guestBlog&utm_campaign=brand_advocates) and the “restaurant and accommodations” sector saw a 73% employee turnover rate in 2017. With the cost of turning one hourly employee [hovering near $6000.00](https://scholarship.sha.cornell.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?referer=&httpsredir=1&article=1148&context=chrpubs), engaging your team to become brand advocates for your restaurant is a smart business decision - especially because they live and breathe your business on the daily.  **Increased business visibility** Companies that have a strong employee advocacy program definitely increase their visibility. Messages shared by employees [went 561% further](https://www.postbeyond.com/blog/statistics-for-employee-advocacy/) than the same message shared on a brand owned channel; brand messages are [reshared an average of 24x](https://www.postbeyond.com/blog/statistics-for-employee-advocacy/) when distributed by an employee vs. the brand. Saying you’re good is one thing; when your team says your brand is good, you make it into the bonus round. So here’s how to start transforming your restaurant staff into brand advocates:  --- ## **1. Drive your team's learning experience** During the interview process, your new team member was likely very fired up about joining your restaurant’s staff; starting a new professional opportunity and chapter in your life is a very exciting time. Sadly, [many restaurants fail to capitalize on this “new job” excitement](https://blog.typsy.com/how-to-engage-your-team-when-on-boarding-new-hospitality-staff) and put the kibosh on their chance to transform new staff into brand advocates day one. Here’s how it usually goes: Your new staff member shows up for the first day and are told to read the 45-page employee handbook — sit in the corner, read the manual, and fill out paperwork. They then get a tour, maybe some basic OSHA mandated training, and then they’re let loose on the floor. This isn't how it should look like.  Instead, on a new staff member’s first day, [you should hold an employee welcoming party](https://blog.typsy.com/5-awesome-induction-activities-to-get-your-new-team-excited). You want to make their first day memorable in the best way possible; Make sure to clear your calendar so you have time to focus on really getting them excited about joining your team. Once again, remember that your new team members (internal customers) must be treated just as great (and maybe even better) than your external customers (guests). [On boarding](https://pos.toasttab.com/blog/onboard-new-restaurant-employee?utm_source=typsy&utm_medium=guestBlog&utm_campaign=brand_advocates) sets the tone for how the employee is going to connect with your brand. Take it seriously, put some energy into it.   --- ## **2. Treat your staff like assets** Your restaurant’s staff members are assets, not liabilities. If you think that restaurant staff are lazy and entitled, you will tend to find yourself surrounded by lazy and entitled people. When you focus on the bad, you tend to get more of it. Focus on your team members’ natural strengths; find ways to help them flourish by playing to their strengths. So your server may not be the best at talking to customers, but have you noticed that they’re incredibly adept at anticipating a customer's needs three steps before it happens? Maybe they consistently run other staff members food and drinks, while also managing their own workload. Impressive. How can you learn about your restaurant staff’s strengths? [Talk to your team](https://www.typsy.com/courses/effective-communication-with-staff) more and find out what makes them get out of bed in the morning, as well as what makes them tick. Find out what their dreams and goals are in life, both professional and personal. In today’s competitive job market, employees want to work for companies that [give them opportunities](https://www.fastcompany.com/40490723/how-to-help-build-employees-career-paths-so-they-dont-quit) to advance their career, whether that be developing new skills, [learning from a mentor](https://blog.typsy.com/what-to-look-for-when-finding-a-hospitality-mentor), or having a clearly outlined path of success. Find a way to help your staff achieve their and they will go into battle for you and your brand.   --- [![Typsy We teach hospitality to the world typsy.com blog banner \_ (1)](https://blog.typsy.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Typsy%20%20We%20teach%20hospitality%20to%20the%20world%20%20typsy.com%20blog%20banner%20_%20(1).png?width=960&name=Typsy%20%20We%20teach%20hospitality%20to%20the%20world%20%20typsy.com%20blog%20banner%20_%20(1).png)](https://www.typsy.com/sign-up?utm_source=Blog&utm_medium=Social+media&utm_campaign=Blog+banner&utm_id=Blog) **Typsy’s 1000+ hospitality lessons are practical, effective, and fun! You can learn more about everything from finance to service and leadership skills.** **Best of all, you can access Typsy as and when it suits you.** **Learn your way - starting today.**   --- ![How to transform your restaurant team into advocates\_650x350\_1](https://blog.typsy.com/hs-fs/hubfs/How%20to%20transform%20your%20restaurant%20team%20into%20advocates_650x350_1.png?width=750&name=How%20to%20transform%20your%20restaurant%20team%20into%20advocates_650x350_1.png) ## **3. Show appreciation to your staff** The two most powerful words you can say to another person are: Thank You. Think of how great it feels when a guest walks up to you after enjoying a meal at your restaurant and says those two words to you. It feels pretty good, doesn’t it? Your team wants to experience that as well. Give it to them. Saying thank you is probably the simplest yet most effective thing you can do to transform your restaurant staff into brand advocates. The best thing about it? It costs you nothing. [Sincerity and appreciation are paramount](https://blog.typsy.com/appreciating-empowering-staff-tips-andrew-carlson) to any experience, especially that of your internal customers. [Thank your team openly](https://pos.toasttab.com/blog/how-to-communicate-effectively-in-your-restaurant?utm_source=typsy&utm_medium=guestBlog&utm_campaign=brand_advocates). There’s an old saying that you should, “critique in private and praise in public”. Wise words. Take to social media and showcase your brand advocates. Celebrate their birthdays, life events, and accomplishments. Your restaurant is more than just the food and drink you serve, it’s the people who shape the memorable experiences that delight your guests time and time again. Make time to appreciate and share the stories the people on your team. --- ## **4. Focus on team experience** If you want to improve your gx — guest experience — you’ve got to focus on the TX —  team experience. When you focus on making your restaurant a great place to be for staff members, they’ll want to share the good news with others. Here are a few [benefits you can offer](https://blog.typsy.com/5-fun-ways-to-reward-your-hospitality-staff) to employees guaranteed to [boost workplace morale](https://pos.toasttab.com/blog/boost-employee-morale?utm_source=typsy&utm_medium=guestBlog&utm_campaign=brand_advocates): - Giving staff members access to an employee area - Providing staff meals and discounts on food - Health benefits - PTO (paid time off) - Offering advanced training, coaching, and/or mentorship - Creating a scholarship program for students on staff - Offering unique benefits, like child care or covering transportation costs By transforming your restaurant staff into brand advocates, they become a megaphone broadcasting a positive narrative about your restaurant’s brand and mission. --- ## **5. Reward their loyalty** People love free stuff.   Giving your staff cool swag like water bottles, sweatshirts (hoodies), baseball caps, bags (backpacks), and stickers makes promoting your restaurant as easy as getting dressed in the morning. Don’t give them the same t-shirt you expect them to wear at work; make it special, make it unique. Better yet, ask them what they would like. --- When your team starts incorporating your restaurants brand into their personal life, then you know you have finally transformed them into brand advocates.   --- | ![Donald Burns.png](https://blog.typsy.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog_Images/Donald%20Burns.png?t=1535000175625&width=170&name=Donald%20Burns.png "Donald Burns.png") | **Donald Burns** is [The Restaurant Coach™](http://www.donaldburns.net/). He is a leading authority, speaker, and international coach on how restaurant owners, operators and culinary professionals go from just good to becoming outstanding. His mission: Build your brand. Increase your profits. Strengthen your team. | | --- | --- | --- **You might also like**   | [![5 fun ways to reward staff\_200 x 113](https://blog.typsy.com/hs-fs/hubfs/5%20fun%20ways%20to%20reward%20staff_200%20x%20113.png?width=200&name=5%20fun%20ways%20to%20reward%20staff_200%20x%20113.png)](https://blog.typsy.com/5-fun-ways-to-reward-your-hospitality-staff) [5 fun ways to reward your](https://blog.typsy.com/5-fun-ways-to-reward-your-hospitality-staff) [hospitality staff](https://blog.typsy.com/5-fun-ways-to-reward-your-hospitality-staff) | [![How to engage your team when on-boarding new staff\_200x113\_1](https://blog.typsy.com/hs-fs/hubfs/How%20to%20engage%20your%20team%20when%20on-boarding%20new%20staff_200x113_1.png?width=200&name=How%20to%20engage%20your%20team%20when%20on-boarding%20new%20staff_200x113_1.png)](https://blog.typsy.com/how-to-engage-your-team-when-on-boarding-new-hospitality-staff) [How to engage your team when on-boarding staff](https://blog.typsy.com/how-to-engage-your-team-when-on-boarding-new-hospitality-staff) | [![Appreciating and empowering staff - Andrew Carlson\_200x113](https://blog.typsy.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Appreciating%20and%20empowering%20staff%20-%20Andrew%20Carlson_200x113.png?width=200&name=Appreciating%20and%20empowering%20staff%20-%20Andrew%20Carlson_200x113.png)](https://blog.typsy.com/appreciating-empowering-staff-tips-andrew-carlson) [Appreciating your staff-tips from Andrew Carlson](https://blog.typsy.com/appreciating-empowering-staff-tips-andrew-carlson) | | --- | --- | --- |   [Restaurants & Bars](https://blog.typsy.com/topic/restaurants-bars) [Team performance](https://blog.typsy.com/topic/team-performance) [Leadership & management](https://blog.typsy.com/topic/leadership-management) ## Similar posts Hospitality operations ### [How to deliver the perfect pitch to investors](https://blog.typsy.com/how-to-deliver-the-perfect-pitch-to-investors) Getting help from an investor can help with the success and growth of your hospitality business, but how do you execute the perfect pitch? Try these... Doug Radkey Jul 12, 2018 Team performance ### [How to engage your team when on-boarding new hospitality staff](https://blog.typsy.com/how-to-engage-your-team-when-on-boarding-new-hospitality-staff) Induction training for your new hospitality staff should be engaging and fun, while still covering your business processes. Here's how to do it! Try... Gaynor Hunter Jul 8, 2018 Team performance ### [How to network like a boss at the next hospitality event](https://blog.typsy.com/how-to-network-like-a-boss-at-the-next-hospitality-event) Networking is one of the best ways to get ahead in your career and also spread the word about your hospitality business. Here are some tips to ensure... Michael Bascetta Jul 29, 2018 ### Get notified on new marketing insights Be the first to know about new B2B SaaS Marketing insights to build or refine your marketing function with the tools and knowledge of today’s industry. [About us](https://www.typsy.com/about) [Courses](https://www.typsy.com/discover/courses) [Pricing](https://www.typsy.com/pricing) [Contact us](https://www.typsy.com/contact) ###### Platform & Trust [Platform overview](https://www.typsy.com/platform) [Trusted hospitality content at scale](https://www.typsy.com/platform/hospitality-training-library) [Global hospitality credentials](https://www.typsy.com/platform/hospitality-certifications) [Performance intelligence](https://www.typsy.com/platform/performance-intelligence) [Hospitality learning operations](https://www.typsy.com/platform/learning-operations) [Language translations](https://www.typsy.com/solutions/training-translations) [Integrations & infrastructure](https://www.typsy.com/platform/integrations) ###### Solutions [Accelerate onboarding](https://www.typsy.com/solutions/challenges/employee-onboarding) [Workforce engagement & retention](https://www.typsy.com/solutions/challenges/staff-engagement-retention) [Leadership development](https://www.typsy.com/solutions/challenges/leadership-development) [Compliance & risk management](https://www.typsy.com/solutions/challenges/compliance-training) [Brand consistency](https://www.typsy.com/solutions/challenges/brand-consistency) [Service quality & guest satisfaction](https://www.typsy.com/solutions/challenges/guest-experience) ###### Hospitality segments [Hotels, resorts & accommodation](https://www.typsy.com/solutions/industries/hotels-resorts) [Restaurants & F&B groups](https://www.typsy.com/solutions/industries/restaurants-food-service) [Hospitality operators](https://www.typsy.com/solutions/industries/hospitality-operators) [Hospitality education](https://www.typsy.com/solutions/industries/hospitality-schools) ###### Hospitality courses [Courses overview](https://www.typsy.com/discover/courses) [Beverage courses](https://www.typsy.com/discover/courses/beverage) [Business courses](https://www.typsy.com/discover/courses/business) [Compliance courses](https://www.typsy.com/discover/courses/compliance) [Culinary courses](https://www.typsy.com/discover/courses/culinary) [Hotel courses](https://www.typsy.com/discover/courses/hotel) [Management courses](https://www.typsy.com/discover/courses/management) [Service courses](https://www.typsy.com/discover/courses/service) ###### Company & resources [About us](https://www.typsy.com/about) [Contact us](https://www.typsy.com/contact) [Help Hub](https://intercom.help/typsy/en/) [Implementation & support](https://www.typsy.com/platform/implementation-support) [ROI calculator](https://www.typsy.com/roi-calculator) [Partner ecosystem](https://www.typsy.com/partners) [Security & compliance](https://www.typsy.com/platform/security-compliance) [Typsy shop](https://www.typsy.com/shop) [Become an instructor](https://www.typsy.com/company/become-an-instructor) [Blog](https://www.typsy.com/learn/blog) [![Typsy](https://orchardcore.typsy.com/media/svg-icons-2026/logo-white.svg)](https://www.typsy.com/) [![](https://orchardcore.typsy.com/media/svg-icons-2026/typsy-linkin-icon.svg)](https://www.linkedin.com/company/7953302/) [![](https://orchardcore.typsy.com/media/svg-icons-2026/typsy-instragram-icon.svg)](http://www.instagram.com/asktypsy) [![](https://orchardcore.typsy.com/media/svg-icons-2026/typsy-facebookicon.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/asktypsy) [![](https://orchardcore.typsy.com/media/svg-icons-2026/typsy-youtube-icon.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/@Typsy) Hospitality insights that turn operational challenges into better performance. By submitting this form, you agree to Typsy's [Terms](https://www.typsy.com/legal) and [Privacy Policy](https://www.typsy.com/legal/privacy-policy). © 2026 Typsy. All rights reserved. [Privacy Policy](https://www.typsy.com/legal/privacy-policy) [Terms](https://www.typsy.com/legal)