Mastering the art of pizza and business | Mike Bausch, Andolini's | 051

Great teams make great restaurants. On The Pre-Shift, restaurant operators and industry experts dive into building great restaurant teams. We explore their stories, their strategies, and valuable lessons on running restaurant teams. Hosted by D.J. Costantino. Presented by 7shifts.Mike Bausch, a certified master pizzaiolo and the brains behind Andolini's Worldwide joins DJ Costantino on the Pre Shift Podcast. In this episode, Mike shares his journey from aspiring Marine Corps officer to leading a 12-restaurant empire in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Recognized nationwide for their exceptional pizza, Andolini's success is attributed to a commitment to quality and a no-half-measures philosophy. Mike outlines his leadership and staff training techniques, explaining why he avoids the term 'family' in favor of a more professional 'team' dynamic. He also discusses his transition into becoming a mentor and educator for the restaurant industry through his Unsliced Restaurant System. Mike offers insights on cross-training staff, maintaining low attrition rates, and the importance of structured employee evaluations. The episode is packed with practical advice and actionable takeaways for building and sustaining a high-performing restaurant team.Chapters00:00 Introduction to the Pre-Shift Podcast00:23 Meet Mike Bausch: The Pizza Mastermind01:19 Mike's Journey: From Marine Corps to Pizza Empire03:04 The Turning Point: Mentorship and Mastery06:39 Expanding the Brand: Beyond Pizza09:42 Building a High-Performing Team15:55 Balancing Structure and Flexibility in Training16:42 Maintaining Low Attrition Rates18:34 Employee Feedback and Evaluation Process21:03 Team Building and Andomania23:12 Mike Bausch: Mentor and Educator24:59 The Unsliced Course and Restaurant Systems26:15 Engaging with the Restaurant Community31:49 Future Plans and Exciting Developments32:22 Conclusion and FarewellSend us Fan Mail📲 Connect with usEmail usFollow on LinkedInMore 7shiftsSpotify | Apple Podcasts | Google PodcastsSubscribe to Food Runner, our Monthly Restaurant Newsletter7shifts on YouTubeFollow us on TikTokRead the 7shifts BlogAbout Us7shifts is a restaurant platform that helps operators and managers hire, train, schedule, pay and retain their restaurant teams. With an easy-to-use platform and industry-specific solutions, 7shifts saves time, reduces errors, and helps keep costs in check for over 55,000 restaurants.