The Power of Recognizing Service

by Jarrad Holst, Partner at Riezman Berger P.C. | Founder/President of 1904Group

“You can always tell when a person has worked in a restaurant. There’s an empathy that can only be cultivated by those who’ve stood between a hungry mouth and a $28 pork chop, a special understanding of the way a bunch of motley misfits can be a family. Service industry work develops the “soft skills” recruiters talk about on LinkedIn — discipline, promptness, the ability to absorb criticism, and most important, how to read people like a book. The work is thankless and fun and messy, and the world would be a kinder place if more people tried it. With all due respect to my former professors, I’ve long believed I gained more knowledge in kitchens, bars, and dining rooms than any college could even hold.”

– Anthony Bourdain 6/25/1956 — 6/8/2018

I have never forgotten about the long hours on my feet dealing with customers most of whom failed to understand what it was like to work in a low-wage job. It taught me humility in a way that no parent or book could ever convey.

As a result of these experiences, I have always made a point to “see” the hard-working folks that provide customer service every day with words/action:

• Please, Thank you, Sir, Ma’am
• Eye contact
• Name recognition
• Small talk
• Tips

The above acts/words are the least we can do.

Mr. Bourdain was right that “the world would be a kinder place” if more people worked in service jobs.