Planning guide

Why we plan the way we do

Eight areas run this restaurant. When each leader's goals connect to the same short list of priorities, we pull in one direction and guests feel it. Each step of the plan exists for a reason, and this page explains it.

The Operator's {{ year }} priorities

Every goal you set must support one of these.

Step 1 · Reflect Start from what actually happened

Goals built on real lessons fit your area. Include what went wrong as well as what went right. Both point to where your next goal should be.

Good answer: "Adding a second order-taker at lunch cut DT departure from 52 to 44 seconds."

Go to Step 1

Step 2 · Goals Tie every goal to a priority and a number

Linking to an Operator priority keeps all eight areas working toward the same results. A baseline, target and date turn an intention into something we can track and celebrate. One or two goals done well beats five done halfway.

Good answer: "Reduce DT departure time from 44 to 35 seconds by Sept 30, 2027."

Go to Step 2

Step 3 · Action plan Make it clear who does what, and when

Actions with owners and dates get done. Quarterly milestones show a goal slipping in April instead of December. Naming the help you need from other areas lets them build it into their own plans.

Good answer: "Weekly DT timer review in huddle — Shift Leaders — Jan 31."

Go to Step 3

Financial stewardship Show what the goal is worth

A dollar estimate helps the Operator decide where to put time and budget. Only goals that directly raise sales or lower costs need one. Show your math so the number can be checked.

Good answer: "+3 cars per peak hour × $9.40 avg check × 2 peaks × 310 days ≈ $17,500."

Go to Step 3

Step 4 · Support Keep the team invested

Team Members work harder toward goals they can see and get recognized for. Deciding up front how you'll celebrate a milestone makes sure it happens, and a plan to sustain results keeps them from sliding back.

Good answer: "Team lunch each time a quarterly DT milestone is hit."

Go to Step 4

Quarterly check-ins Keep the plan in use all year

A plan written in December and never opened again changes nothing. A five-minute update each quarter shows what's working, flags what's stuck, and gives the Operator a chance to help early.

When: First week of April, July, October and January.

Go to Check-in

How to

Write a strong goal statement

A goal statement is one sentence that says what will change, by how much and by when. Anyone on the team should be able to read it and know whether you hit it.

The formula

1 · ActionReduceA verb that shows direction

2 · MetricDT departure timeOne number from a report

3 · From → to44 to 35 secondsBaseline today and the target

4 · Scopeat lunch and dinner peaksOptional: where or when it applies

5 · By dateby Sept 30, {{ year }}The finish line

Reduce DT departure time from 44 to 35 seconds at lunch and dinner peaks by Sept 30, {{ year }}.

Helpful verbs: Reduce · Increase · Raise · Close · Reach · Earn · Maintain

Check your statement

Tied to a priorityIt moves one of the Operator's priorities above.

One numberIt names a single metric you can pull from a report.

Starts from todayIt includes the baseline so progress is visible.

Has a finish lineIt has a target and a date, so everyone knows when it's done.

In your controlYour area's actions can move it, even if you need help from others.

A stretch you can reachHard, but achievable with the actions in your plan.

From vague to clear

VagueClear

Improve drive-thru speed.Reduce DT departure time from 44 to 35 seconds at lunch and dinner peaks by Sept 30, {{ year }}.

Keep more Team Members.Raise Team Member retention from 58% to 70% by Dec 31, {{ year }}.

Cut food waste.Close the food cost gap from 1.2% to 0.5% or less by June 30, {{ year }}.

Be better at food safety.Earn a Food Safety score of 1 in all four quarterly audits in {{ year }}.

Example numbers are illustrations. Use your area's real baseline.

Write My Goals

Planning calendar

Start My Plan

{{ areaName }} · {{ leaderName }}

Your {{ year }} plan

Due {{ dueShort }}

Look back at {{ prevYear }}

Use a number wherever you can. Specific lessons lead to specific goals.

What worked this year that you'll keep doing? * What didn't work, and what did you learn from it? *

Set 1–2 goals

Every goal must support one of the Operator's {{ year }} priorities. Pick the priority first, then write the goal as: action + metric + target + date.

Assigned to you by the Operator {{ assignedNames }} You need at least one goal for each. Your other goal can support any priority. You may add a third goal if it's for an assigned priority. {{ assignedNote }}

Goal {{ g.n }}

Remove

Which Operator priority does this goal support? *

Metric you'll track *

Why this goal, and why now? *

Build the action plan

Each goal gets its own actions, milestones, resources and risks. Quarterly milestones are what you'll report against at each check-in.

Goal {{ g.n }} · {{ g.priName }} {{ g.statementOr }} {{ g.metricLine }}

Key actions

+ Add Action

Quarterly milestones

Resources needed

Help from other areas

Biggest risk or obstacle What could get in the way, and what will you do if it happens?

Financial stewardship Only goals with a direct dollar impact need an estimate.

Support and accountability

You'll report progress at a quarterly check-in during the first week of April, July, October and January.

How will you recognize the team when a milestone is hit? * How will you sustain results once a goal is reached? What excites you most about these goals?

Review and submit

Your plan can be submitted once every item below is complete. The Operator will approve it or send it back with notes.

See One-Page Plan

Back

{{ areaName }} · {{ leaderName }}

Quarterly check-in

Report where each number stands against this quarter's milestone. Takes about five minutes.

No goals yet. Build your plan first, then check in each quarter.

Goal {{ g.n }} · {{ g.priName }} {{ g.statement }}

Baseline{{ g.baseline }}

{{ quarter }} milestone{{ g.milestone }}

Target{{ g.target }}

Status

Submit {{ quarter }} Check-in

Print Plan

Ft. Totten · {{ year }} Goal Plan {{ areaName }} {{ leaderName }} · Status: {{ status }}

Keep doing{{ lesson0 }}

Lesson learned{{ lesson1 }}

Goal {{ g.n }} · {{ g.priName }} {{ g.statementOr }}

Baseline{{ g.baseline }}

Target{{ g.target }}

By{{ g.deadlineFmt }}

Actions

{{ a.text }} — {{ a.owner }}, {{ a.dueFmt }}

Resources: {{ g.resLine }} Needs from: {{ g.depLine }} Risk: {{ g.risks }} $ impact: {{ g.finLine }}

Recognition{{ recog }}

Check-insFirst week of April, July, October and January.

Operator view

All areas

Priority coverage

Which areas have a goal linked to each Operator priority.

{{ p.name }} Target {{ p.target }}

No goal linked yet

Plans by area

AreaPlan statusGoalsCompletenessLatest check-in

—

Review

This leader hasn't started a plan yet.

Goal {{ g.n }} · {{ g.priName }} {{ g.statementOr }}

Metric{{ g.metricOr }}

Baseline → target{{ g.baseline }} → {{ g.target }}

By{{ g.deadlineFmt }}

$ impact{{ g.finLine }}

Needs from: {{ g.depLine }} · Risk: {{ g.risks }}

Plan quality check

{{ f.label }}: {{ f.text }}

Feedback for {{ rv.leader }}

Approve Plan

Request Revision

Operator view

Plan settings

Plan year and schedule Switching to a new year saves this year's plans, carries the priorities forward with baselines cleared, and moves the schedule dates forward. Leader plans start fresh.

Plan year

+ Add Milestone

Reset Schedule

The latest date is shown to leaders as the plan due date: {{ dueFmt }}.

Operator view · {{ priCount }} priorities

{{ year }} priorities and targets

Leaders choose from this list when they set goals. Assign lead areas before planning starts; a plan can't be submitted until it has a goal for each assigned priority. Enter the {{ prevYear }} baseline so leaders can see the gap they're closing.

Reset to Default

Add Priority

Priority {{ p.n }}

Remove

Lead areas · each must set at least one goal for this priority

No lead area assigned. Nobody is required to cover this priority.

Metrics by area

These are the metric options each leader sees when setting a goal. Keep only numbers your area actually gets reports on.

Reset Metrics

No metrics yet. Leaders in this area will have nothing to pick.

Add

Goal Planning