Tag Archives: getting things done

The Power of Teamwork in the Hotel Industry

When it comes to providing exceptional service to guests, the hotel industry relies on the power of teamwork. From the moment a guest books their stay to the moment they check out, the staff at a hotel plays a crucial role in ensuring that their experience is memorable. And while individual employees may have their own areas of expertise, it’s the collaborative efforts of a team that truly make a hotel run like a well-oiled machine.

But why is teamwork so important in the hotel industry? Here are a few reasons:

  • Improved guest experience: When employees work together as a team, they are able to provide a better guest experience. I’ve seen firsthand how a team of front desk employees who communicate effectively and work together to resolve guest issues results in happy guests who are more likely to return to the hotel.
  • Increased productivity: When employees work together as a team, they are able to accomplish more than they would individually.
  • Better problem-solving: Teams are able to come up with more creative solutions to problems than individuals. When employees from different departments worked together to solve a difficult guest complaint, they came up with an innovative solution that not only satisfied the guest but also improved our hotel’s overall service.
  • Enhanced employee morale: When employees feel like they are part of a team and their contributions are valued, they are more motivated and satisfied with their job. When employees feel that they are part of a team and are recognized for their hard work, they are more motivated to continue to provide excellent service to our guests.
  • Cost savings: Teams can work together to identify areas where cost savings can be made.

So, how can hotel management foster a culture of teamwork within their organization? Here are a few tips:

  • Clearly define roles and responsibilities: Make sure each team member knows their role and what is expected of them. This helps to avoid confusion and ensures that everyone is working towards the same goals.
  • Encourage open communication: Create an environment where team members feel comfortable sharing ideas, concerns, and feedback. This helps to build trust and fosters a sense of collaboration.
  • Lead by example: Hotel management should model the behavior they expect from their team members and foster a positive work environment that promotes teamwork and collaboration.
  • Recognize and reward teamwork: Recognize and reward team members for their contributions to the team’s success. This helps to build a sense of pride and ownership among team members, which can lead to increased motivation and productivity.
  • Provide opportunities for training and development: Invest in your team members by providing them with opportunities for training and development. This helps to build a skilled and motivated team that is better equipped to work together effectively.
  • Celebrate successes: Take the time to celebrate the team’s successes, big or small. This helps to build a sense of camaraderie and promotes a positive work environment.
  • Encourage feedback and suggestions: Encourage team members to give feedback and suggestions on how to improve teamwork. And act on that feedback, this can help identify and solve issues that might be hindering teamwork.

In conclusion, teamwork is essential for the smooth operation and success of any hotel. By fostering open communication, a positive work environment, and opportunities for team-building, hotel management can create a culture of collaboration that benefits both the hotel and its guests.

Are You Really Productive or Just Always Busy?

Working in hotels now for my entire career, I have worked together with many talented people who simply spent too many hours at the hotel trying to get things done – I am talking 16 hours every day. Granted, if you choose a career in hospitality, you’ll always have a somewhat interesting schedule, need to be flexible with shifts and days-off, and work extra hours, but to what extend are those extra hours every day really necessary, and when do we stop being productive? Busy does not equal productive, and you’ll find that most people who are trying to add too many things to their to-do list and because of it work too many hours, actually accomplish less. They’re also more likely to get drained and run out of passion, and cannot be at their best anymore when it really matters. Continue reading Are You Really Productive or Just Always Busy?

Don’t Let Great Ideas Die

I have now worked in five different hotels over the past decade and all of them had one thing in common. People would tell me about all the great things that they used to do or all the great ideas that they have had in the past, but that just disappeared or never even happened.

Why is that? We know that a lot of people have great ideas all the time, know what’s wrong and what needs improvement, so why is it that only few succeed?

1111_idea_400x280 Continue reading Don’t Let Great Ideas Die

Take care of the Big Rocks first

‘The Big Rocks’ theory is by far one of my favorite lessons in leadership, and it took me some time to really understand. I am sure that you must have heard about this story in some way shape or form before, but there is a difference between just hearing and understanding it, and truly believing in it.

My boss loved to tell me his lessons in leadership in vivid stories, some of them made sense right at the beginning, some of them needed lots of fine tuning, and some are better off never told again.

Regardless of how busy I thought I was in my role as housekeeping manager in a unionized property putting out the fires of the day to day while making everyone happy in being always responsive and helpful, my boss reminded me at the end of each day that I accomplished nothing, as I did not do anything to make anything better for the next day. He said that I was so focused on the small rocks that I could not possible take care of the big ones.

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Image courtesy of dan at FreeDigitalPhotos.net Continue reading Take care of the Big Rocks first

Put the ball through the hoop!

‘Taking the basketball and putting it through the hoop’ is an equivalent of getting things done, making stuff happen, and taking action. Working in a hotel like in any other people’s business you can rest assured that many things are not going the right way and that people make mistakes every day. Amazingly, however, most are eager to tell you what’s wrong, how it is affecting your business, and seem to know exactly what you should be doing about it to correct it, rather than helping to get it right themselves. Imagine a coworker approaching you about a problem, how it came it to it, and what she is doing about it to solve it.

Ìÿ÷ è êîðçèíà‘Putting the ball through the hoop’ is not a skill set, it’s an attitude, and a mindset to be part of the solution, not the problem. It’s wanting to change things to the better and making a difference. It’s about delegating tasks, and holding people accountable to it.

I have heard my former boss telling me this about a thousand times at our weekly meetings, when I would tell him about the challenges in our department and what I believe that he/we should be doing about it. ‘Take the ball and put it through the hoop’ would be his response at the end of every meeting, and he would be very enthusiastic and excited about telling me the true meaning of it over and over again. It’s about taking action, and not just talking about it. It’s about making a decision, and not being afraid about making mistakes along the way.

Continue reading Put the ball through the hoop!