Do you give your all when your at work? Are you recognized for that?

We are totally in prime Hospitality season in North American and I am sure that business is booming. With President Obama's initiative to bring more people into the USA for Tourism and the Canadian Government pushing to have visitors come on over, the North American hospitality industry is in full swing.
Are you giving 100% each and everyday your at work? Do you show it to your guests? Are they getting your winning smile and shining personality?  When your overworked and unappreciated, going to work daily doesn't really bring a smile to your face now does it?

As a leader, are you really focused on your colleagues or are you mainly focused on your workload? Switching your daily routine to include some one on one time with your colleagues is truly imperative. Everyone learns, interacts and lives differently. Some are needing the extra push, some just want to be recognized, no parade.....no party and streamers but merely an acknowledgment that their leaders see what they can and have accomplished. Are you doing this? Does the daily day to day workload get noticed? Are you interacting and keeping your colleagues engaged?


If you have been lacking in that department, don't despair, you can always change, it IS possible if your willing to put in the time. Just saying hello and then walking into your office and locking it tight doesn't focus on your team now does it? Your probably reading this and thinking, WHAT DOES SHE KNOW?
I have been in a multitude of locations and that gives me an edge. It means I have been with different leaders, have BEEN the leader and I have made a plethora of mistakes and have learnt from them. I also know what makes myself and my fellow colleagues happy.

Recently I was unemployed, giving me the opportunity to really look at my strengths, weaknesses and what I wanted and things I wouldn't want once I started working again. I did research, went back to schooling myself by enrolling in some excellent classes online, reading and generally getting information. I realized my passion for hospitality continues to grow and assisting others to become better makes me very happy and I feel as though my thoughts are extremely useful. Having wonderful role models is always key as well. My leaders at Disney when I was privileged enough to be invited to work in a Cultural International Program also make me love going to work daily. Now, I would NEVER, EVER say that everyone is perfect, Disney isn't PERFECT either but the ones around me, taught me very well, my experiences were incredible and I continue to be in extremely close contact with my Disney leaders and they continue to inspire me today.

I was one who always admired the way leaders made me feel part of a TEAM. I was asked nothing more than my very best each and everyday and was given the tools to preform my daily tasks to the very best of my ability. Not only that but was offer the chance to be empowered. To many times we have all heard horror stories of leaders who are micro-managers. These people are more afraid of loosing their own positions, for fear that you yourself would be better than they were and that you had the ability to take their high powered, high paying position away from them. So, in order to ensure that wasn't going to happen, they would keep an extremely close eye on you and your every move. Telling you what to do and exactly how to do it. Where is the opportunity to shine there? And when you didn't preform to the very best of your ability, who exactly gets the blame?

Knowing that your leaders are encouraging you, creating an empowering environment and allowing you to SHINE and also to make mistakes and to LEARN from them. These are the future, gone are the micro-managers or at least, we hope that this is the way of the future. Hospitality is about personality, about giving to your guests and receiving back so much more. It is more than a tip, more than a job, it is a way of life. And for those of us that are allowed to grow, flourish and soar.....the everyday tasks become extra ordinary and becomes a passion. Are you nurturing this in your colleagues? Become a leader that you yourself want to have. In the end, you will provide so much more than you may even realize.

Are you working for a company that is invested in you?

In today's highly competitive Hospitality industry, you need to realize that everyone is fighting for a spot on that team. However, is that team working for you? Are you being provided the very best training that can be provided?
Many properties are starting to offer the same type of training, University. That's right, you read that correctly, University. They offer a site that you may visit 24 hrs a day, 7 days a week at your leisure. This gives the colleague the opportunity to do their own training. Is this right? Is this the proper way of training a colleague? Are they getting the information needed to properly do their job?

Hilton Hotels have started a developed site making each colleague responsible for his or her own development. Hilton University doesn't limit them only to being on property in a shift at the property. The courses were actually developed in partnership with Harvard & Cornell Universities.
Choice properties also have Choice University, able to visit the site 24 hrs a day, 7 days a week however I am unsure at post time exactly who is responsible for development.

We are told that many times colleagues are in the dark about promotions and advertising from their very own properties and this is a fantastic education opportunity for everyone to find information compiled in one location. In the University sites, the student gets to travel through modules at their very own pace, retracing steps not understood or in need of review when needed.

Disney Institute has also been created for more than just the Disney Cast Members, it was actually created for anyone willing to pay to receive Disney training. This program was created as many people in the past made inquiries to Disney in regards to the possibilities of learning the famed Disney MAGIC secrets.
These programs offered are actually hosted by former Disney CEO's, trainers and many.....many Disney Top Leaders. Disney has spared no expense to provide everything that makes Disney......well......Magical.
Learning how to accept guests, how to act, things to do to adjust your own business to create more revenue, more magic. Sounds silly to some I am sure but make no mistake, this is BIG BUSINESS. Disney Institute has been experiencing great demand for many many years. You are immersed in Disney Culture, and find out the Traditions and daily business practices that make Disney the Empire that it is today. I mean, it wasn't always that way but remember, Disney is only Disney because of the Cast Members it has and it has many.
Over 65,000 in Florida alone, Disney is the largest employer in the World. That means obviously they are doing something right.

I am so proud and honored that I am a Disney Cast Alumni. I spend much time training, offered the same training that each and every current Cast Members are offered. Traveling to Disney University for classes. Then, your not dropped into your location without more training, your actually offered at least another 2 weeks of hands on, personalized training and you are never left to feel alone. The knowledge I received it actually something I go back to for every position I have received since my contract completed.
I was taught the highest standards, the very best of the best.

Does your company provide you that? Do you have people that are available to provide one on one training? Are you left alone after a day of reading a manual and expected to know everything? Are you set up for success?

To the future of Hospitality, Hilton, Disney and even Choice properties have begun offering the opportunity for you the colleague to succeed. You can be reassured that learning from the past has offered a bright new future for the new and up and coming stars in the Hospitality Industry and I for one cannot wait to see the future.

Taking on a newer role in an old faithful

Beginning a new journey takes courage, bravery, strength and determination. When you have been out of work for a longer period of time that you anticipated, you are faced with different sets of challenges.
When you finally are successful in obtaining a position, hopefully in the career field your custom to being in, you have to remember how things are done. If your lucky, you will slide right back into the old ways, picking up where you left off.

I love the hospitality industry, in particular, the Hotel World. The guests are magical to me. They provide such joy and inspiration and I know that I have arrived at my perfect career choice. I have many friends from around the world, folks I have had the PRIVILEGE and HONOR of spending quality time with and with whom have taught me more than they could ever imagine.

When I left the Hotel industry to try my hand in the Casino World again, I was perplexed. I thought that I would loose my talents I so proudly offered many times prior. However, once thrown into that exciting and scary world of Casino's once more, made me realize more and more how much I LOVE Hotels and shall not stray again so help me God.

1365 rooms at the grand dame of Hotels the Toronto Fairmont Royal York Hotel to the Casino Rama Hotel to the Vancouver Fairmont Waterfront, I have learnt how to accept guests graciously, openly and lovingly. I learnt that I can treat each and every guest with respect and although they all have different ranging needs, they all expect and deserve the very same treatment. No one is better than the next. As I love to tell people, "We all have to put our pants on in the morning, some of us may have someone to DO it for us but we all have to do it, one leg at a time".

Returning to a small, small town to work has brought it's own challenges. Not knowing a single solitary person in town other than your parents with whom you have begrudgingly moved in with and not many more has offered a different opportunity for me. I have taken the time to write. My feelings, my chapter, my life. I have included posts for my blogs, expanding my Social Media take over. ;) I have learnt to calm down. Take every single step slower. I learnt to appreciate things in my life, be grateful. Even accepting a part time position in a lower scaled property. Such a difference from 1300+ rooms and now, 60. WOW.
Being in a property with over 65,000 cast members at Disney to working alone....WOW indeed.
However, I know I can do it, I have proven myself time and time again. I have shown others that I excel in this wonderful world of Hospitality. It's a delicious career choice for me, offering the opportunity to travel, explore and do the things I enjoy most, getting out and investigating our world we have the opportunity to live in.
What do you love doing? Is the Concierge Desk what makes you crazy happy? Housekeeping give you a boost of happiness? Valet give you that thrill you have always dreamed about?
These are things that makes so many people happiness, filled with Bliss. Can you truly say that you are delighted with going to work daily? Do you spring out of bed in the morning and are raring to go in?
Yes, people do have off days, but on the whole, if your truly doing what you love, you will HONESTLY never work a day in your life.
So go out there, figure out YOUR bliss and enjoy, ever. last. Fantastic moment.

Four Tips to Successful Delegating | ehotelier.com News Archives

Four Tips to Successful Delegating | ehotelier.com News Archives

Staying in touch with your guests

Staying in touch with your guests

Hire for Passion, Not Just Talent - Management Tip of the Day - May 25, 2012 - Harvard Business Review

Hire for Passion, Not Just Talent - Management Tip of the Day - May 25, 2012 - Harvard Business Review

How to cope with a coworker from HELL- article from BRAZEN LIFE

INCREDIBLE and poignant article written by Kelly Gurnett from Brazen Life. Everyone has experienced working with a coworker from hell but did you know how much it affects everyone? Read this amazing article that makes so much sense and makes you really think before speaking next time your at work and ready to speak up.

Is your resume boring or super-hero style? Find outhow to create a resume and cover letter that will get you called in for that coveted interview.

If you’ve been in the workforce for any length of time, chances are you’ve run into one of them—the coworkers who make everyone else’s days miserable. You wish they would just get fired, and maybe someday they will; karma’s gotta come around eventually, right?.

But until then, here are some tips for dealing some of the most common incarnations of The Coworker from Hell – without getting fired yourself.

The Grump

It was cute when Eeyore did it, but not so cute when the middle-aged woman the next cube over sighs, “Well, that figures…” every time the printer jams. You dread asking her anything because you know it will be met with a belabored sigh and the inference that you’re part of the universe’s grand scheme to keep her down.

The best way to deal with The Grump is to kill her with kindness (and then promptly ignore her).Be polite, be upbeat and let every frown and under-the-breath mutter roll right off you.

You will probably never be able to de-grumpifya Grump, but you don’t have to let her bad attitude ruin your day. (Plus, nothing bothers a Grump more than someone who refuses to sympathize with their woes. Not that you’d be so devious as to use cheerfulness as a weapon, but I’m just sayin’…)

The Bully

If you think you’ve outgrown playground politics, think again. Grownups still find plenty of ways to intimidate and exert power over others because they feel insecure about themselves. Taking note of every time you run five minutes past your lunch? Or cc’ing the boss on an e-mail complaining to you about a personal conflict? Office bullies want nothing more than to bring other people down to make themselves look better.

The one and only way to handle an office Bully is to ignore them and take the high road. Don’t respond unless it’s absolutely necessary (as in saving your reputation from that libelous cc).

If you do need to respond, be polite, be respectful and say as little as possible. Bring any potentially work-threatening conflicts to your supervisor’s attention rather than trying to hash them out with the Bully.

Be the grownup—don’t engage, don’t fuel the fire and soon enough the Bully will either get frustrated and bother someone else or cross the line so far that management takes notice.

The Clinger

You took the new girl out for lunch to make her feel welcome, and now she’s waiting for you every day at noon asking, “So, where are we going today?”

You have to be kind with a Clinger. It can be tough making friends at work, and you’ve obviously helped this person feel like they belong. Don’t cut them off altogether; instead, try to gradually extricate yourself from being their 24/7 pal.

Claim other obligations you have to fulfill now and then. Help introduce them to other people in the office. Make it clear that you’re available, but not constantly available. Gently prying yourself from a Clinger’s grip is much more effective than suddenly ignoring them altogether, which can result in an unfortunate “Why do you hate me what did I do how can I make it up to you?!” reaction.

The Chatty Cathy (or Charles)

Your best defense against a chatty coworker is your environment: you’re at work. Just tell them you have work to do.

There are plenty of ways to do this tactfully: “I’m so sorry to have to run, but the boss is expecting that report from me,” or “I hate to cut you off, but I have a deadline.” Preface your exit with a statement that expresses your regret, then get the heck out of there.

Don’t feel bad if you need to interrupt a Chatterbox mid-sentence; some of them don’t leave room to get a word in edgewise. Some won’t even care that you’ve left and will latch on to the next available person without skipping a beat.

Which brings up the dilemma of the Ultimate Chatterbox, the sort that doesn’t get the hint even after you’ve gone back to your desk, sat down and started typing while they continue to regale you. In those cases, the other person has basically decreed that politeness has gone out the window. Continue to type away, refuse to lend even an “Mm-hmm,” even pick up the phone and start making a call if you want to. When the Chatterbox realizes she’s not getting any kind of reaction, she’ll get bored and move on.

The Gossip

The thing to remember with an office Gossip is however much secret enjoyment you get from hearing the latest dish on your boss, you are palling up to the office Gossip. Just because you’ve shared some juicy exchanges doesn’t make you immune to becoming one of their hot topics down the road. (Or from being labeled a gossip yourself if people find out you’ve been swapping stories.)

Be extremely careful what you say around a Gossip. Practice phrases like, “That’s really none of my business” and “I’m sorry; I’ve got work to do right now.” The further away you keep from a Gossip, the better you are. Nothing good ever comes from talking behind people’s backs.

When all else fails

If a coworker is really preventing you from getting your work done, or if they’re acting unethically or harassing you, it’s not tattling to take it to your superiors. Some people are just difficult to work with, but when it crosses the line and reaches any of these extents, you have the right to stand up for yourself. Don’t forget that!