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Matt has let his lifelong passion of food and people lead him to 15 amazing years as a restaurant manager and another 9 years working as a Director with a major food service distributor. He has channeled this passion to help create and run ShiftNote. When he's not dominating the food service industry, he's spending time with his 4 children and cheering on the Tigers as a Mizzou Alumni.
If you’ve ever felt torn between being a supportive leader and accidentally becoming the “hovering boss,” you’re not alone. Building accountability without falling into the trap of micromanagement is one of the biggest challenges managers face—especially in shift-based businesses like restaurants, hotels, and manufacturing.
Labor forecasting can feel like trying to predict the weather—you look at the patterns, make your best guess, and hope you don’t get caught in a storm of overstaffing or understaffing.
Stepping into a management role for the first time is both exciting and overwhelming. Whether you’re leading a restaurant team, hotel staff, or shift-based crew, those first few weeks set the tone for your success.
In shift-based businesses, scheduling is more than just plugging names into time slots—it’s a major factor in employee satisfaction, retention, and productivity.
In any shift-based business, the schedule isn’t just a calendar—it’s the heartbeat of the operation.
In the fast-paced world of shift work—whether you're managing a bustling kitchen, a busy hotel lobby, or a production floor—success doesn’t just come from showing up and ticking boxes. It comes from leadership. And great shift managers? They lead differently.
If your team’s energy is low and your turnover is high, it might be time to break out the board games—or better yet, something a little more active and engaging. Games at work aren’t just about fun (though that’s a big win too). They're a surprisingly effective strategy for improving employee engagement, boosting morale, and building stronger shift-based teams.
In shift-based industries—like restaurants, hotels, and manufacturing—recognizing employees can feel like one more task on an already packed list, but here’s the truth: recognition doesn’t have to be complicated. A little appreciation can go a long way toward boosting morale, reducing turnover, and creating a workplace where people actually want to show up.
Running a hotel is a little like conducting an orchestra—every section has to come in on cue, or the whole thing falls apart. One missed note, one misread shift schedule, and suddenly you've got a front desk scrambling, housekeeping short-staffed, or a restaurant that’s backed up when guests just want to relax.