Strategy
5 Metrics Every GM Should Check Before 9 AM
A 10-minute ritual that prevents all-day firefighting.
Great shifts begin before doors open. The best GMs are not lucky. They are briefed. A daily check-in with five metrics creates clarity for staffing, prep, and guest flow before pressure starts.
The five metrics
- Today vs forecasted sales by daypart.
- Labor coverage against expected traffic.
- COGS risk items likely to run hot today.
- Reservation and delivery load by hour block.
- Open alerts that require owner assignment.
These metrics work because they are actionable. Each one answers a concrete question: do we need to move people, prep differently, buy differently, or escalate something now?
A practical routine: check metrics, assign owners, set one success target for lunch and one for dinner, and revisit mid-shift. The process is simple, but consistency compounds.
Detailed operator checklist
- Run the five-metric review at the same time every day.
- Assign one owner per exception before the first rush.
- Recheck the same five metrics after lunch for correction.
Common execution mistakes
Teams often review metrics without ownership. A short review only works when every issue has a clear next action and owner.
Keep Reading
- The Death of the Monthly P&L
- Forecast Accuracy: Why 98% Changes Everything
- Why Restaurants Still Run on Guesswork in 2026
TableTurnr delivers these five metrics every morning automatically