Interview with Martin Strydom from Milaneza
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Not only is Martin a friendly, pleasant person to talk to but he has proven to be one of the most efficient restaurant managers in Rustenburg, doing a great job taking care of his customers.
Albert and I felt honored to interview Martin on a short notice. I spoke to him real quick yesterday while having some coffee and phoned him earlier on today to confirm our meeting for the interview. He answered the questions and we had a good talk all the way through.
1. Who are you and what do you do?
I’m a 22 year old restaurant manager located in Rustenburg. I have been living in Rustenburg for about 7 years now. I previously lived in Welkom where I started doing horseriding for 14 years as both a hobby and profession. Being a horseriding instructor is my main interest. Today, I manage a restaurant, being responsible for both customers and the business side of things on a daily basis for the past few months.
2. When did you start doing what you do and why?
Management is my niche. I’m a good leader and business intrigues me. I have had several management positions before taking on this restaurant which broadened my knowledge and skill set over a period of time as I learned things along the way. I enjoy the challenge of providing excellent customer service while maintaining my colleges and staff members.
3. What are your specialties?
Apart from cooking at home in my free time? I am a good manager all round. Collaborating and communicating with customers throughout the day in order to keep them satisfied requires determination and a positive attitude, which I have. So good customer service would by my main specialty.
4. What challenges have you faced and how did you overcome them?
Guiding my staff is a big challenge. Your staff is a team and one unhappy staff member breaks the momentum and working cycle. Managing and maintaining them is continuous challenge. I enjoy working with customers in general but it often gets busy which requires me to execute several actions simultaneously.
5. What is your one killer piece of advice for other people in your field?
Keeping customers happy guarantees a return. Be friendly, efficient and caring towards the people on whom your business depends on… your customers. Remind yourself that you are a leader and that your staff members will follow your example.