Helpful Service Behaviors for Staff + Common Service Mistakes to Avoid
DO:
- Keep service efficient and polished — composed professionalism reads as competent, not cold
- Use "sir" or "ma'am" from the first interaction — hold that register unless the guest shifts it
- Mean what you say — be precise on wait times, prices, and policies
- Know your products thoroughly — Austrian guests notice and respect confident, accurate answers
- Acknowledge guests promptly when they enter or approach — don't wait for them to speak first
- Accept "Stimmt so" graciously — thank the guest simply and move on without making it awkward
DON'T:
-Don't open with your name, personal opinions, or unsolicited recommendations -Don't oversell, exaggerate, or make claims you can't back up — imprecision erodes trust quietly -Don't confuse Austria with Germany — treat them as the distinct country and culture they are -Don't drop the check uninvited — Austrian guests expect to ask for the bill themselves -Don't wing it when a guest asks a specific question — if you don't know, say so and find out fast -Don't mirror the guest's reserve with total silence — brief acknowledgments at key moments are still expected"