Involving your staff from the planning stages is imperative in developing a strong team. My team at six.one.six is closely tied to the Grand Rapids, Michigan community. To boost camaraderie we’ve had contests timed with local events and promotions (most recently, the #cooleratthejw promotion and Grandwich, a local sandwich competition held in conjunction with the local CVB). The staff is encouraged to enter by providing suggestions for the chance of winning a gift certificate for the best idea. I’ve found that this fosters a friendly competition in the kitchen.