Having a leadership mindset is vital for a successful career in the increasingly competitive hospitality industry. No matter what field you are in, whether it be customer service, operations or management, the right mindset can make a significant difference.
This guide explores the concept of a leadership mindset and why it matters so much in hospitality management. We also recommend hospitality degrees to help you acquire the skills and knowledge you need to take your career to the next level.
What is leadership?
Leadership is about guiding a group of people to meet certain goals. It’s about using the skills and abilities of your team, as well as motivating them to do the best they can.
A leader has to oversee their team and take responsibility for the actions of all their team members, and it means that you can truly guide change and progress.
What is a leadership mindset?
Those with a leadership mindset are able to analyze their abilities as well as those of the people around them to make proactive and efficient decisions.
Having a reflective approach that allows for continuous change and improvement is also an essential attribute of an effective leader.
Other leadership qualities include being focused on growth, having a positive approach to resolving challenges, and consistency in overcoming difficulties – all of these are key and instrumental in building a team that is motivated toward a common goal.
The importance of a leadership mindset
Why do leadership mindsets matter? When you’re looking at a management-level hospitality career, it is vital to make sure you have the right mindset.
A leader’s mindset influences their decision-making, problem-solving, and their ability to inspire and guide their team. Having the right mindset can help foster positive organizational cultures, drive change, and ensure long-term viability and growth.
Benefits of having a leadership mindset
If you have a leadership mindset, especially in the hospitality industry, you can help deliver a number of advantages for your business, including:
- Better communication among all staff
- A work environment in which people are happy and reach their potential
- Productivity
- Efficiency
- Fewer mistakes
- Motivated staff
Growth mindset
What is a growth mindset?
A growth mindset is a belief system and attitude that centers on the belief that abilities, intelligence, and talents can be developed and improved through effort, learning, and perseverance. Individuals with a growth mindset embrace challenges, view failures as opportunities for growth, and remain resilient in the face of setbacks.
They are more inclined to take risks, seek out opportunities for self-improvement, and continuously strive for personal and professional development. This mindset fosters a culture of innovation, resilience, and adaptability, making it a valuable asset in both personal and professional endeavors.
How to develop a growth mindset
If you want to develop a growth mindset, it’s worth learning about examples of great leadership and thinking about how and why these people have been able to see setbacks as opportunities.
It’s also worth considering what motivates them to keep going. How do they reframe challenges in a positive way?
To develop a growth mindset in the hospitality industry, studying hotel management or resort management at an academic level is a great first step.
Learning the theory will give you the foundation from which you can develop the key skills you will need and form the mindset for success.
Benefits of having a growth mindset
A growth mindset can help you in a lot of ways during your leadership career. For example, this mindset can give you:
- A healthier attitude towards failure, viewing it as part of the journey towards success
- More resilience, even when things get tough
- More ability to encourage growth in your team members
- Extra motivation to improve your abilities and learn new skills
Our degree is the essential start that provides the skills and knowledge for a successful leadership career.
What is a performance mindset?
A performance mindset is all about being focused on the end result. Leaders at top hotel brands, for example, demonstrate a performance mindset by working tirelessly towards the goal of giving customers the best experience in every possible way.
That means customers feel the benefits of good leadership from the moment they walk in the door, during their stay, and beyond.
Even after they leave, hotel leadership will continue to work tirelessly to ensure customers remain satisfied. This involves providing great service and follow-up with guests who had less-than-ideal experiences.
How to develop performance mindsets in others
Developing a performance mindset in your team is vital to ensure success. You can help those around you work on their performance with tips such as:
- Hire staff who take responsibility
- Ensure employees have the ability to develop and improve their skills
- Encourage a sense of freedom and ownership
- Inspire employees to reach their full potential
- Implement feedback loops to get input from staff at all levels
- Celebrate successes both big and small to motivate others
Benefits of having performance mindsets
When a hotel, restaurant or other hospitality venue has adopted a performance mindset, there are multiple benefits that can be seen. This includes:
- More customers and repeat business
- Greater customer satisfaction
- High levels of staff engagement and job satisfaction
Leadership abilities and types
Characteristics of an effective leader
People who are skilled at leadership in hospitality have adopted the attributes they need to succeed.
One of the primary leadership skills is communication, which includes verbal and non-verbal communication, as well as listening to your team members. Self-confidence is also vital in leaders, as is the ability to make difficult decisions but also recognize when they get it wrong.
Refine your skills, learn from industry experts and benefit from exclusive placements in prestigious venues that enhance your abilities to lead a team, strategize and manage resources
Different types of leaders
There are many different types of leaders and many have different management styles. Some of the main leadership types are:
- Autocratic leaders, who make decisions independently, often with limited input from their team, promoting efficiency but potentially stifling creativity.
- Democratic leaders, who encourage collaboration and seek input from team members, fostering a sense of ownership and innovation.
- Transformational leaders, who inspire and motivate their teams to achieve extraordinary outcomes through a shared vision and charisma.
- Transactional leaders, who focus on structured exchanges, rewarding or punishing based on performance.
- Laissez-faire leaders, who provide autonomy to their team, allowing them to make decisions independently.
Effective leadership often involves a combination of these styles, tailored to the specific context and goals of the organization.
As you become better at leadership, you will find what leadership style works best for you, as well as your team.
Building leadership skills and abilities
One tried-and-tested method to boost leadership skills is by studying for a degree that focuses on these abilities. At Les Roches, students can enhance their skills by seeking out experts such as an alumnus leadership coach, who can provide the opportunity to learn about new ways of working.
For some, choosing good role models such as inspiring women alumnae can also help to maintain motivation and provide ideas on how to overcome difficulties during their journey to leadership.
Embracing a leadership mindset
Having a leadership mindset in the hospitality industry is vital. The success of a hotel, restaurant, bar or coffee shop depends on the mindset of those in charge, especially in the highly competitive hospitality industry.
Embracing this mindset involves a commitment to continuous learning, adaptability, and a deep understanding of the responsibility to guide and inspire others. This means that even once you have reached a leadership role, you should keep working on your skills and honing your leadership mindset.
What qualities are essential for a successful leadership mindset in the hospitality industry?
If you want to become a successful leader in hospitality, you will need to work on skills, such as:
- Confidence to take charge
- A creative mind
- A clear vision
- Communication skills
- Ability to adapt to change
Alongside these soft skills, you will need to work on various hospitality skills, which are specific to the industry. Once you have both of these skill sets, you should be able to start your career in leadership.
Career opportunities in hospitality leadership
Hospitality is an industry that is growing and expanding continuously. This means there will always be opportunities for people who wish to lead others in providing the best customer experience.
The World Travel and Tourism Council has suggested the industry could generate $9.5 trillion in 2023, with the potential for an additional 100 million jobs – that’s a lot of people to lead.
It’s a diverse industry and offers the opportunity to work at resorts, on cruise ships, and at hotels around the world. This means every potential leader can find a niche in which they can excel.
Our degree can open doors with key skills and industry knowledge that combines understanding of customer needs with managerial strategies and entrepreneurial techniques
Conclusion
Developing a leadership mindset alongside a growth mindset is vital to succeed in hospitality management.
As the industry is fast-paced and competitive, this means focusing on both business and personal development. To thrive, leaders need to be able to learn from their mistakes and see failures as opportunities to improve.
Being a great leader means continual learning, no matter how much experience you have.
Photo Credits
Main Image: Hispanolistic/ E+ via Getty Images
