5 Ways To Improve Your Management Skills

Managers are leaders — and to lead effectively in a restaurant, you need to continually develop your management skills. It’s not always easy, especially when you’re balancing daily operational demands, but taking time to reflect on your leadership style and identify areas for improvement can have a lasting impact on your team and your business.

In the restaurant industry, it’s common to hear how busy things are and how there’s no time for personal development. At the same time, employees often point to issues like miscommunication or poor management. These challenges are closely connected — and improving your skill set can positively influence everything from efficiency to team dynamics to your bottom line.

Becoming a better manager starts with making your own growth a priority. The good news is, there are plenty of ways to learn and improve without stepping away from your day-to-day responsibilities. Below are several practical ways to strengthen your management skills and become the leader your team needs in 2026.

1. Consult the Web

One of the great things about the Internet is that everyone can share their own experience – so you have an opportunity to learn from others in an open (and free!) environment. There are dedicated message boards where you can have conversations with other managers, and their are blogs (like the one you’re reading, and like this one) that are dedicated to sharing management tips.

It can feel overwhelming, but once you narrow in the handful of sites that speak to you, you’ll have quick and easy access to them in the future and can check back for the latest management thoughts and tips.

2. Enroll in a One Day Course

If you’re able to take a little time away from the office, consider a one-day learning course. Courses are often offered through local community or business colleges, and sometimes even through city or county services. You can also look at whether national associations have chapters in your area, and whether they offer seminars or classes (start with the National Restaurant Association)

3. Ask Employees for Feedback

In really busy times, it can feel like you just don’t have the bandwidth or energy to make time for additional research or classes. If you’re ready to start but need to take small, manageable steps, try starting with your own employees. We recently shared ideas about creating an employee survey, which can be a great starting point for getting feedback and opening a conversation about your management style and where to improve. We recommend pairing this exercise with one of the other options listed here – but either way, it’s a good path to getting honest feedback and starting to make changes.

*Our relational employee schedule formula page outlines some ideas for getting feedback from your employees related to your schedule.

4. Find a Mentor

If you don’t already have a strong network of fellow restaurant managers, now is the time to start making friends in the industry. One of the best ways to improve your management style is to learn from those who have faced the same challenges you have. Try to get in touch with other managers in your area and suggest a meetup. Hearing their experiences will help you determine who has similar challenges and can help you reach your potential. When you’ve done that, don’t be afraid to ask them for help or thoughts – they’ll have a valuable perspective that will help improve your style.

5. Attend Networking Events

Lastly, make sure you check your local area business associations for networking events. And cast a wide net! Even if an event isn’t restaurant specific, in many cases management tips are helpful and effective across several industries, so you may learn something. Keep an open mind, meet lots of people, and don’t forget to follow up (with the organizers and your new connections) down the road. Take your e-business card to make the process of contact sharing and follow up easier.

Remember, being a good manager is a moving target – you’ll always have areas where you can improve. Take it one day at a time, and make sure you’re being thoughtful about the ways you can grow, learn, and truly improve your management skills.

How have you worked on your management approach? Share with us in the comments.

JD Spinoza

JD enjoys teaching people how to use ZoomShift to save time spent on scheduling. He’s curious, likes learning new things everyday and playing the guitar (although it’s a work in progress).