Where do you return your tray?

Don’t leave your team guessing how they’re supposed to communicate. Answer these questions to establish norms and expectations.

Photo by Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash

I went to a food court last week. Complete with two bars, an outside beer garden, and niche food stands, it was a pleasant work field trip.

Until it came time to actually get food. It wasn’t clear initially that I had to go back to where I ordered my food to pick it up; I had to infer it from the person on the other side of the stone counter by way of their handing me a plastic buzzer (an action done with limited enthusiasm).

Once I finished my meal, I wasn’t sure what to do with my tray or plates. Would someone come to get them? Did I need to take my tray to the magical place where they store and wash the trays? Or should I take my tray back to the person behind the stone counter because every stand had its own special trays and dishes? 

I finally figured it out, by way of stalking another diner and matching their behavior. Of course, this particular stratagem didn’t necessarily result in a correct answer, only in my ability to point and say, “They did …