Being a leader in hospitality means work and… more work

Common sense believes that when a leader reaches the top, the job will decrease. For those who cultivate this thought, I am sorry to say that, unfortunately, the top will never reach these people. And I say this with the tranquility of those who have worked hard and continue working even leading one of the largest resorts in Paraná. The only place where success comes before work is in the dictionary.

It turns out that the team around the leader watches him closely. Any gesture or posture serves as a mirror to those who are led. And it is a great responsibility to live up to those expectations. So, coming to the top, thank me for getting more work and more responsibility on your shoulders. I, as I have a relationship of gratitude to work, is not an effort to act towards excellence every day. If for you it is, look for a job that accomplishes it.

That image of the CEO leaning back in his chair with his legs crossed over the table is utopia, illusion. Whoever is a leader, whether small or large teams, has a role to play. And that’s not just “ratting out” subordinates. Example comes from us so that people can value the work well done, from beginning to end.

The only place where success comes before work is in the dictionary

And I want to share an experience of my own, which I tell in my book “Towards a successful career in hospitality.” I once caught a lot of a boss, but my motivation was greater than any adversity. And how I thank this brilliant professional for choosing me to be on that hotel’s executive committee. And how grateful I am for all the conversations, collections, pressures, ear pulls, vision, in short, everything. The fact is that I thank you so much for having great leaders, who demanded me to the extreme so that, effectively, I could be a hotelier who seeks to learn always and better.

It doesn’t matter if you’re in a large chain or a smaller hotel. The important thing is to be a hotelier in the sense of the word, to be taking care of people, the people who chose your hotel to spend good times, with quality, comfort and safety. If you feel vanity, pride and are arrogant for working on something you consider to be the best, be careful. The world of hospitality can be changing. Today you may be well positioned, but not tomorrow. Never think you are better than others or disdain this or that hotel or professional. You never know tomorrow, and at some point, you might need that hotel, that company, that professional.

Here are some lessons I learned – and I keep learning – in hospitality:

Value your team

A great leader needs first of all to focus on the team, on the people. They’ll give you the rest. Results are key to the business, but they are not everything. First come people and their appreciation in a team.

Don’t be afraid to share your knowledge

Work with people who know more than you do. Let go of your ego that you know everything and nothing else. Teach people to know what a service delivery focused on excellence is and do it with respect and dignity, always valuing what the other carries baggage.

Always surprise guests

We must take advantage of the opportunities to surprise our guests, attentive to their tastes, desires, requests. And even more so with social networks, this work becomes easy to identify. I get bored when I hear something like “I haven’t looked, I haven’t seen, haven’t passed, I haven’t had time for this or that.” This is really unfortunate starting from professionals who occupy strategic position in their hotels. If that’s your case, you need to rethink what you understand as leadership.

Be an example

Be number 1 in setting an example. And to set an example is not to speak beautiful, but to conquer in everyday life, in practice. It is in small and simple attitudes that you will build your image, both for good and for evil. Being coherent and transparent conveys security and confidence to those around a leader. Think about it – and act on it.