Training your team is one of the most important parts of running a successful pub or hospitality business — and one of the most overlooked.
Too often, training is rushed, inconsistent, or based on the assumption that “they’ll pick it up as they go.”
From experience, that approach creates more problems than it solves.
Good training doesn’t need to be complicated.
But it does need to be clear, consistent, and repeated properly.
🌿Why Some Training Doesn’t Work
In many pubs, training follows a familiar pattern:
- a quick explanation at the start of a shift
- being shown something once
- then expected to carry on alone
People don’t remember everything the first time
- People don’t remember everything the first time
And if they’re unsure, they won’t always ask.
This leads to:
- inconsistency
- mistakes
- lack of confidence
Not because people aren’t capable —
but because they haven’t been shown properly.
🌿A Simple Method That Works: Show, Do, Repeat
The most effective training I’ve used over the years is simple:
Show → Do → Repeat
Step 1: Show
Demonstrate the task properly.
Take your time and explain why it’s done that way.
Step 2: Do
Let the team member carry it out themselves.
Stay nearby, guide if needed, but don’t take over.
Step 3: Repeat
Let them do it again — and again if needed —
until it becomes natural.
Confidence doesn’t come from being told.
It comes from doing.
🌿What Every New Team Member Should Learn First
When someone joins your team, focus on the basics first.
Not everything at once — just what matters most.
Start with:
- how to interact with guests
- basic bar service
- cleanliness and organisation
- working as part of the team
When these are strong, everything else becomes easier to build on.
🌿Knowing When Someone Is Ready for More
Training isn’t just about showing someone how to do a task.
It’s about recognising when they’re ready to move forward.
Look for:
- confidence in what they’re doing
- consistency in their approach
- willingness to take responsibility
When those are in place, you can start introducing more.
Not before.
🌿Common Training Mistakes to Avoid
Some of the most common mistakes I’ve seen are:
- assuming someone “should know”
- showing something once and moving on
- correcting without explaining
- giving too much, too quickly
These don’t build strong teams.
They create uncertainty.
🌿Final Thoughts: Training Builds Everything Else
Well-trained staff don’t just perform better.
They:
- feel more confident
- support each other more effectively
- create a better experience for guests
And over time, they become the people you can rely on to step up.
Training isn’t an extra task.
It’s what everything else is built on.
