The next team needs decisions and priorities, not a long account of everything that happened.
A shift can finish well and still leave the next team starting behind. An unreported equipment fault, a missing delivery or a guest request can turn into a service problem simply because the information didn’t travel.
A useful handover answers a few questions: what is unresolved, what needs attention next, who is responsible and where the supporting information can be found. Keep routine completed tasks in the checklist so the important exceptions don’t get buried.
Be specific. ‘Stock is low’ leaves someone else to investigate. Naming the item, the available quantity and whether an order has been placed gives the next person something they can act on.
Keep the handover in one agreed place, rather than scattering it across messages, scraps of paper and conversations. A quick conversation can add context, but the written record keeps an important detail from depending on someone’s memory.
The person receiving the shift should be able to ask questions and confirm the priorities. For anything urgent, make sure someone has actually accepted responsibility rather than assuming they saw the note.
A practical starting point: review the last few handovers with your team. Find one recurring missed detail and agree where it will be recorded and who will pick it up next.
