A combination of empathy, understanding, motivation and caring all come together along with a desire for self-improvement and a high expectation of excellence to create strong leadership that builds effective, productive teams.

1. Amin Deroui

2.  Being a “leader” is not the same as being a
“manager,” however it’s best if both roles are
blended into one. The difference is that leaders can
be found at all levels of hospitality… you don’t need
to be managing a staff to be a leader. Managers have
the authority, but may not have the ability to inspire,
motivate and support their teams as a true leader
would.

3.  Really great leaders are open to new ways of doing
things. They’re always seeking to improve
themselves and the organization and value quality
over quantity. They are happy to take the initiative
and are continuously learning and honing their skills.
They’re also not afraid to take a risk and surround
themselves with those whose skills complement
their own.

4.  Amin Deroui also believes a leader must be able to
set and communicate the goals and plans (the vision)
for the company. Once everyone on the team
understands the big picture of what they’re trying to
achieve, they can work together toward that goal.
Leaders trust their employees to execute the vision
and give them the tools to do it.

5.  Leaders also understand there needs to be a work-
life balance to succeed. It’s important to value the
time your employees have with family and friends
and how that translates to the ability to focus on the
tasks at hand. There must also be a focus on building
on and nurturing the strengths within the team to
really use them to their fullest potential.

6.  Here’s where real leaders shine… the ability to
inspire their associates to do their best work, to
support one another and feel empowered to do their
jobs. They build confidence in their employees and
ask for their input in making changes and setting
goals.

7.  Communication is at the root of all great leadership
and part of being a good communicator is being an
active listener. Good leaders are curious and willing
to ask questions, be empathetic and consider
options from all team members.

8.  Today, the computer is at the center of the business
of hospitality. Reservations, accounting, inventory,
record keeping, etc. are all integrated into the digital
systems in every hotel. You don’t have to be an
expert, but you do need to be competent at the
keyboard.

9.  Budgeting and documenting expenses and profits
are the basis for making sound business decisions.
Being aware of tax payments, payroll operations,
business filings and other financial practices cannot
be underestimated in being a successful manager
and leader.

10.  Here’s where the ability to understand the big
picture of marketing, sales, utilization of space,
understanding hiring practices and what’s needed to
compete in the marketplace comes into place. The
strong leader understands how to take advantage of
opportunities and tackle challenges that lead to
growth.