Solve to Learn #05:
Dan Prudhomme | March 5, 2023
Not Subscribed Yet?
Join Free
Embracing change is being open to new ideas and innovations, and not being afraid of taking risks. Staying on top of trends and customer preferences, especially for a local SMB can be challenging given all the given priorities in a workday.
SITUATION-FIRST
Most people take an average of 2-3 minutes to jump to a conclusion versus a diagnosis of the facts.
"My parents instilled in me a sense of self that I was more than just a diagnosis." -Zach Anner
SOLVE
Get to know the situation.
“We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.." - Winston Churchill
TO (THE OUTLINE)
Familiarize yourself with the content and understand the outline.
“Life isn't about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself." -George Bernard Shaw
STAR Outlining System
- Situation
- The 5 Whys
- Analysis
- Revenue
LEARN
Embrace the opportunity and absorb the knowledge! Make it happen, my friend!
"We only can learn to love by loving." -Irish Murdoch
STAR Outlining System
Situation
- A local restaurant has seen a decline in revenue over the past few months despite efforts to increase marketing and promotions.
- To identify the root cause of the revenue decline and come up with a situation to address it.
The 5 Whys
- Why is revenue declining?
- Because there are fewer customers coming
- Why are there fewer customers coming in?
- Because the restaurant's menu has become outdated and lacks variety.
- Why has the menu become outdated?
- Because the owner hasn't updated it in several years.
- Why hasn't the owner updated the menu?
- Because they are afraid of upsetting regular customers who may be attached to certain dishes.
- Why are regular customers attached to certain dishes?
- Because the restaurant has been serving them for a long time and customers have come to expect them.
Analysis
- Based on the 5 Whys analysis, we can conclude that the root of cause of the revenue decline is an outdated menu.
- To address this issue, the restaurant could consider updating the menu to include more modern and diverse options while still keeping some of the popular dishes that regular customers enjoy.
- This can be done gradually by adding new items and offering specials to introduce customers to the new menu.
Revenue Solutions
- By updating the menu and offering more variety, the restaurant can attach new customers while also retaining its regular customers.
- This can lead to increased revenue as more people are likely to dine at the restaurant, order takeout, or recommend it to others.
- Additionally, with a more diverse menu, the restaurant can charge higher prices for some of the new and unique dishes, which can boost revenue.
Burnout Busting
After identifying the outdated menu is the root of the revenue decline, the restaurant owner may feel overwhelmed or burnt out at the prospect of updating the menu. Here are a few ways they can overcome burnout and create a new menu.
1. Take a break: Sometimes stepping away from work can help clear the mind and recharge.
- The restaurant owner can take a few days or even a week off to rest and come back to the menu with a fresh perspective.
2. Get inspired: The restaurant owner can draw inspiration from other restaurants, food blogs, or culinary magazines.
- They can try new recipes and experience new flavor combinations to come up with unique items.
3. Get feedback: The restaurant owner can ask for feedback from regular customers or even hold a focus group to get ideas for the new menu.
- This can also help to make customers feel more involved and invested in the restaurant's success.
4. Delegate: The restaurant owner can delegate some of the menu planning and testing to other staff members or even hire a consultant to help with the process.
- This can help take some of the workloads off the owner and provide fresh perspectives and ideas.
5. Simply: The restaurant owner can start small by introducing a few new menu items at a time rather than overhauling the entire menu all at once.
- This can help to prevent burnout and also allow for easier testing and tweaking of new items.
By taking these steps, the restaurant owner can overcome burnout and create a new menu that is fresh, exciting, and appealing to customers, which can help to increase revenue and bring in new business.
Funny Origins
Once upon a time, there was a chef named Marie who ran a small French restaurant in a quaint town. Marie was known for his signature dish, the Beef Bourguignon, which has been on the menu for over a decade.
One day, a customer came in and asked Marie why she never changed the menu or added any new dishes. Marie scoffed and replied, "Why fix what isn't broken?" Everybody in town loves my Been Bourguignon."
The customer smiled and replied, "Yes, but even the Mona Lisa needs a new frame once in a while."
Marie pondered what had been said and realized the customer had a point.
In the end, Marie realized that sometimes it's good to step outside of your comfort zone and try something new, even if it means shaking up the menu a bit.
SEAL THE DEAL
Embracing change is a process that involves a willingness to accept, new ideas, adapt to new situations, and evolve over time.
Once a large number of individuals have developed a growth mindset, a culture of innovation can be fostered.
Overall, embracing change is an essential tool in the “solve to learn” approach, as it allows problem-solvers to explore multiple perspectives, challenge assumptions and identify innovative solutions to even the most complex problems.
By implementing these strategies, you can foster a culture of change and innovation within your business, which can lead to solving to learn solutions, staying competitive and relevant in an ever-changing industry.
Just keep unriddling!
DP
If you like threads like this, join subscribers who received this issue in more detail yesterday and hit the follow button.
RESOURCES
Read past issues of Solve to Learn at www.dcprudhomme.me.
|
