Business should be focusing on people more

It's been long since the last post. My apology for not making the new post for a while. I have been busy working and involving in the Australian Rules Football club, as well as exercise and reading.

Recent SEN (the sports radio in Melbourne) sacking David Schwarz (the Ox), Mark Allen (Marko) and Mark Fine (Finey) was extremely shocking and devestating. My thoughts on sacking can be found in the links below.

On Ox and Marko
On Finey

Then recently my work has been catch up, because the restaurant was unexpectedly busy so wash ups and refilling toppings was interrupted with dealing with customers (the kitchen is open one and no glass is placed so that customers do not hesitate to ask kitchen staff any assistance). Eventually the premise got steady and we were able to catch up with everything.

My perception on businesses is that owners and management run the business in sakes of focusing on financial circumstances and relations with cooperates. Businesses are obsessed with money and run by administrators.

In the former case, these moves are big shakes. Changing ownership brings changes in operations and people. I have been heard that the radio station was attracting young audience. But new line ups are not reflected, in my opinion, as they kept Kevin Barlett who is in seventies. His talks are so boring and nonsense for me. How can he be moved to the drive time slot from mornings? Many listeners where so furious and have decided to switch off. They were ignored. I reckon they take favours of stakeholders and cooperates.

It's a good example of businesses not being able to survive without people. I am sure SEN will be struggling with ratings.

As the result of unattached unwashed dishes constantly, some particular dishes were almost ran out. Even refilling one by one causes a delay in services. And seeing piles of unwashed plates could cause stresses to on duty staff members with much pressures.

Such inefficient customer services will dissatisfy diners. Kitchen staff should be able to focus on cooking and food preparation. These tasks are part of our services. I strongly think customers need to respect staff members more for good custmer services. Even when I am taking meals to the table, other customers do not hesitate to ask assistance. Such interruptions will cause inefficient services, in my opinion from experiences. Also we need to be assertive with manners so that customers will understand circumstances.

As I have been working with the book Wresting with Resilience by Chris Shen, it's important to predict longer time to complete tasks to avoid getting stressed as the process to be tough mentally. For the latter case, the business has to be ready to cope with huge crowd especially at weekends. Mishandling with Etihad Stadium management on the AFL match between St Kilda and Carlton in 2016 was another example.

It's said that business owners are desperate to gain profit in short terms so I think they seek cutting costs at first. But such practice is more likely to cause such problems.

When Grant Thomas was in charge at St Kilda as senior coach, he urged then young players to invest for the future. Subsequently Nick Riewoldt, Lenny Hayes, Stephen Milne, Justin Koschitzke and Leigh Montagna stayed loyalty and became one club players (Nick Dal Santo wanted to be too but moved to North Melbourne maturely to allow club to rebuild).

Thomas' method should be implemented in businesses to succeed.

Also I have heard that schools are organised by administration so that environment in teaching has been unattractive and consequently young teachers chose other careers in a few to several years after starting teaching.

Businesses cannot be established without people. They need to focus on people more.

Are pubs losing identity?

According to the Oxford English dictionary, pub is the abbreviation of public house meaning an establishment for the sale of beer and other drinks, and sometimes food, to be consumed on the premises.

Premises are open for the public to socialise even new friendships are established, I think that are identities of pubs.

And some my Western friends told me as they are what puba are meant to be established and contribute to the public.

Sadly I have been told not to talk to other patrons at pubs in Kyoto. I assume that their owners and staff members don't like how I behave (talking to other patrons while I am there on my own).

It's really sad. Sadly Japanese people (not me) tend to keep themselves. They don't talk to anyone outside their groups in a public place. Even they just form Japanese only groups outside Japan.

Opposed to the majority of Japanese people, I am outgoing and love talking to others. An Australian pub in Osaka has never told me not to talk to other patrons. Even my friend has wondered why Japanese people came to the Australian pub even they didn't talk to any other person.

On the other hand, my Western friend told me that not many people didn't go to a pub so much any more and were trying to find a partner online instead.

I guess in this case, it's due to busy life and/or expensive drinks at pubs. Offering opportunities to meet new people and potentially romance as identities seems to be lost.

Connections over the technology can't offer everything that in person counterparts can do. As the nature, we all need human connections.

Pubs are not just selling drinks and foods, but connecting the community and society. I hope premises keep doing such wonderful jobs. But I won't go to any pub in Kyoto on own because of terrible experiences that made me feeling lonely and isolated.