Why Your GM Shouldn’t Be Your Only Trainer: Scalable SOPs for Multi-Unit Brands

In many restaurants, training defaults to the General Manager. And why not? They know the standards, they care deeply about the guest experience, and they’re often the most seasoned person in the building.

But relying solely on your GM to train new staff might be holding your team back—especially if you’re operating more than one location.

If you’re aiming to scale, grow your culture, and reduce turnover, it’s time to stop treating training like a side hustle and start treating it like a system. That’s where Shifty comes in.

GMs Are Leaders, Not Librarians

When training lives only in a GM’s head, three things happen:

• Consistency breaks down across locations

• GMs burn out juggling operations with onboarding

• New hires get uneven training depending on who’s on shift

Your GM should lead the team, coach the floor, and drive the business forward—not scramble to remember what steps the line cook missed during their second shadow shift.

Training shouldn’t be based on memory or mood. It should be clear, repeatable, and aligned with your brand’s best version of itself.

Shifty Makes SOPs Stick—Everywhere

Shifty was built for multi-unit restaurants that want to train like pros, not patchwork it with PDFs, binders, or last-minute conversations. With Shifty, your standard operating procedures become living, breathing guides that your whole team can access anytime, anywhere.

• Structured onboarding plans ensure every new hire gets the same warm welcome and thorough training

• Digital flashcards and checklists make it easy to learn and apply knowledge on the floor, not just in a back office

• Team tracking and progress reports give you insight into who’s ready, who needs help, and what’s working

• Location-level customization allows you to tailor SOPs for each restaurant while keeping core standards consistent

Whether you’re opening your fifth location or fixing turnover at your second, Shifty gives you the tools to scale your culture, not just your headcount.

Empower More Than One Trainer

When training is democratized—shared across team leads, shift supervisors, and hourly mentors, you unlock something powerful: a team that teaches itself. Shifty supports this by making it easy for multiple people to participate in onboarding without stepping on each other’s toes.

You get accountability, clarity, and speed. Your people get confidence, connection, and consistency.

Why It Matters Now

Turnover is expensive. Inconsistent training is frustrating. And promoting from within is nearly impossible when your people aren’t given the tools to grow. By moving training out of your GM’s brain and into a platform built for scale, you make it easier for everyone to succeed.

At Shifty, we believe restaurant is a team sport. When training is shared, structured, and scalable, your GMs can lead, your trainers can train, and your brand can grow without losing what made it special in the first place.

Want to see how it works?

Schedule a walkthrough and see how Shifty supports training across every location, every team member, every shift.