https://restaurantcoachingsolutions.com/blog/ Articles on leadership, guest research, crisis response, donation requests, team standards and restaurant math, written for independent operators. en-us https://restaurantcoachingsolutions.com/u-s-department-of-labor-issues-final-rule-to-amend-tipped-employee-regulations/ https://restaurantcoachingsolutions.com/u-s-department-of-labor-issues-final-rule-to-amend-tipped-employee-regulations/ Fri, 06 Nov 2026 09:00:00 +0000 The Department of Labor's tipped employee rules explained: the 2020 and 2021 final rules, the 80/20/30-minute rule, the 2024 Fifth Circuit decision and 2026 status. https://restaurantcoachingsolutions.com/how-to-become-a-twitter-ninja/ https://restaurantcoachingsolutions.com/how-to-become-a-twitter-ninja/ Mon, 02 Nov 2026 09:00:00 +0000 A practical guide to X (formerly Twitter) for independent restaurants: setting up the profile, what to post, answering replies, finding mentions and local discovery. https://restaurantcoachingsolutions.com/how-documenting-your-interactions-with-others-can-make-you-more-successful/ https://restaurantcoachingsolutions.com/how-documenting-your-interactions-with-others-can-make-you-more-successful/ Fri, 30 Oct 2026 09:00:00 +0000 Why restaurant managers should document coaching conversations, write-ups and guest incidents, what to record, how to keep it factual, and where to store it. https://restaurantcoachingsolutions.com/17-hospitality-leadership-best-practices/ https://restaurantcoachingsolutions.com/17-hospitality-leadership-best-practices/ Thu, 29 Oct 2026 09:00:00 +0000 Seventeen practical leadership habits for restaurant owners and managers, grouped by setting the tone, leading people, running the shift and managing yourself. https://restaurantcoachingsolutions.com/are-you-into-doing-the-math/ https://restaurantcoachingsolutions.com/are-you-into-doing-the-math/ Mon, 26 Oct 2026 09:00:00 +0000 The restaurant math every manager should be able to do: covers, check average, table turns, seat-hour revenue and the long-term value of one happy guest. https://restaurantcoachingsolutions.com/enough-is-enough/ https://restaurantcoachingsolutions.com/enough-is-enough/ Thu, 22 Oct 2026 09:00:00 +0000 When to stop tolerating chronic problems with staff, guests and vendors, and how restaurant owners can set clear standards and enforce them fairly. https://restaurantcoachingsolutions.com/do-you-have-crabs/ https://restaurantcoachingsolutions.com/do-you-have-crabs/ Mon, 19 Oct 2026 09:00:00 +0000 Crab mentality is when team members pull down anyone who tries to do better. How to spot it in a restaurant and what managers can do to stop it. https://restaurantcoachingsolutions.com/the-absolute-best-way-to-deal-with-donation-requests/ https://restaurantcoachingsolutions.com/the-absolute-best-way-to-deal-with-donation-requests/ Thu, 15 Oct 2026 09:00:00 +0000 How to handle the steady stream of donation requests: set a yearly giving budget, pick a focus, publish a simple policy and give staff one script. Template included. https://restaurantcoachingsolutions.com/a-critique-of-dominos-damage-control-video/ https://restaurantcoachingsolutions.com/a-critique-of-dominos-damage-control-video/ Mon, 12 Oct 2026 09:00:00 +0000 What Domino's did right and wrong after the 2009 employee prank video, and a step-by-step crisis response playbook any independent restaurant can use. https://restaurantcoachingsolutions.com/89-of-consumers-research-online-before-selecting-a-restaurant/ https://restaurantcoachingsolutions.com/89-of-consumers-research-online-before-selecting-a-restaurant/ Thu, 08 Oct 2026 09:00:00 +0000 Before they pick a restaurant, most diners look it up. What they check (hours, menu, photos, reviews, location) and how to make each one work for you. https://restaurantcoachingsolutions.com/post-recession-thinking-for-restaurant-operators/ https://restaurantcoachingsolutions.com/post-recession-thinking-for-restaurant-operators/ Mon, 05 Oct 2026 09:00:00 +0000 How independent restaurants can prepare for downturns and recover from them: cash reserves, early warning numbers, menu and labor moves, and when to reinvest. https://restaurantcoachingsolutions.com/blog/is-restaurant-marketing-broken/ https://restaurantcoachingsolutions.com/blog/is-restaurant-marketing-broken/ Thu, 01 Oct 2026 09:00:00 +0000 Why so much restaurant marketing fails: deep discounts, unmeasured ads and neglected regulars. What independents can do instead, in plain steps.