The Power of Motivation Starts with the Smallest Gesture
I once walked into a restaurant just before the lunch rush. The vibe was right. The room smelled amazing. The staff looked sharp. But there was something else I noticed something subtle. At the pass, a young line cook had just plated a dish perfectly. The chef leaned over, nodded with a grin, and handed him a small card with a scratch-off lottery ticket taped to it. Nothing fancy. But the cook lit up. The server nearby gave him a fist bump. Everyone around him moved a little faster, a little prouder. It wasn’t about the lottery ticket. It was about being noticed. That’s the part most restaurant operators miss. Motivation is not always about the money. It’s about meaning. It’s about building moments where people feel they matter. And when your people are motivated, your entire business moves differently.
7 Ways to Motivate Your Team Without Losing Your Mind (or Blowing Your Budget)
Start With "Thank You"
Before you roll out contests, games, or gift cards, get the basics right. Say thank you. Not generically. Not just when the shift ends. Thank someone for handling that difficult guest. For clearing a table fast. For showing up five minutes early.
Specific praise sticks. General praise fades.
Give Feedback That Means Something
Your staff craves direction, even if they don’t say it.
Pull them aside. Keep it short. Tell them what they’re doing well, then what they can improve. Always end with belief. “You’ve got this. I know you can handle it.” That one sentence is more motivating than any bonus.
Show, Don’t Delegate Everything
Motivation rises when your team sees you in the trenches. Wipe a table. Clear a dish. Pour water when you pass the kitchen. These small actions say, “We’re in this together.”
Your presence is one of your strongest motivators. Don’t hide in the office.
Create Small Rituals That Feel Big
A glass of cold water for the kitchen staff halfway through a hot service. A chocolate bar slipped into the pocket of a stressed server with a handwritten note.
A 1-dirham scratch-off ticket handed out mid-rush.
These are micro-moments of leadership. They cost almost nothing. But they compound over time into a culture where people feel seen.
Reward Quiet Wins, Not Just Sales
Too many programs only reward whoever upsells the most bottles of wine. That’s fine, but don’t ignore the team players behind the scenes.
Create dual programs. Match a front-of-house team member with someone from the back. Let everyone have skin in the game.
And yes, it’s okay to have fun with it. One owner gives out PayDay candy bars for great service and Zero bars for people who had a rough shift. Everyone laughs, and the message lands.
Plan Smart. Reward Smarter.
Don’t hand out prizes just to feel like a “cool boss.”
Tie rewards to something measurable. And make sure the business benefits first.
Example: Don’t give away a bottle of wine for selling two bottles. That math won’t hold. Make sure the reward doesn’t eat the margin.
Use SMART goals, specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and time-bound. “Increase signature dessert sales by 15 percent this month” is better than “Let’s boost sales.”
Make It Feel Like a Celebration
When someone wins, make it a moment.
Don’t just toss them the prize over the expo line. Look them in the eye. Shake their hand. Say their name in front of the team. Wrap the gift. Write a note. You’re not handing out a reward. You’re delivering a message. One they’ll remember.
The Takeaway
You don’t need to build a circus to motivate your staff. What you need is consistency, creativity, and a bit of intention.
Start small. Observe. Personalize. Then build. Keep a rotation going so different departments get their turn. Plan rewards that match your brand, your goals, and your budget.
And never forget, motivation is not just about getting more from your team. It’s about bringing out the best in your team.
Because when your people feel valued, they show up not just to work, but to win.
