In a rush, the team succeeds or struggles together. Team communication uses short, clear calls to keep everyone safe and informed. Supporting each other means helping wherever pressure is highest, while clear roles stop jobs being done twice or not at all.
Why it matters
Coordinated teams send food out hot and look calm to guests. Uncoordinated teams miss jobs, and stress spreads fast.
Key ideas
Short, clear calls
Use your venue's calls, such as 'Behind' or 'Hot', so colleagues know where you are.
Share the load
If your section is under control, run food or help at the bar. Ask 'What can I take?'
Clear roles
Know who is running food, taking orders and on the till, and follow any changes your supervisor makes.
Step by step
- 1
Confirm your role at the pre-shift briefing.
- 2
Use short, clear calls as you move.
- 3
Ask for help as soon as you fall behind.
- 4
Run ready food, not only your own.
- 5
Tell colleagues what you did for their tables.
Do
- Stay calm and polite under pressure.
- Tell the kitchen immediately about changed orders.
- Thank colleagues who help you.
Common mistakes
- Don't ignore a waving guest because they are not in your section.
- Don't snap at colleagues in front of guests.
- Don't serve a colleague's table without telling them.
The situation
At 8 pm on Saturday, your tables are settled, but a colleague has three tables waiting and plates at the pass.
What a professional does
You say, 'I'll run your food; you take the orders.' You check the table number, deliver the plates and name each dish. Back at the pass, you tell your colleague, 'Table 12's food is out, and they'd like more water.'
Useful phrases
“Behind you, hot plates!”
“I'm free. What can I take?”
Pro tip
Learn every section's table numbers so you can run food anywhere.
Quick check
Your section is quiet, but hot plates for another server's table are waiting. What should you do?
Think about it, then show the answer
Deliver them, checking the table number, and tell the other server. Food at the pass goes cold, whoever's table it is.