If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.
I can’t take credit for the words above, but I firmly believe in the message.
The cover story for this, the July 15 issue, highlights a recent Hotel Business executive roundtable held in partnership with The Wall Street Journal.
“The next wave: Educating tomorrow’s hospitality leaders” was the topic, and it truly was a great discussion. But more than that, it’s an important conversation to continue to have as we see unemployment at historic lows and the challenges our industry is facing attracting and maintaining talent.
One of the major themes that emerged from the roundtable discussion is the importance of mentoring. Being the beneficiary of a great mentor myself, I know firsthand how important it is for today’s leaders to spend time with the up-and-comers of our industry. The experience for me and my career was invaluable. Whether your company offers official mentoring programs or, like in my case, it happens organically, it’s a great opportunity to instill company culture, work ethic, and, yes, as stated in the article, when texting is appropriate—along with so many other important lessons into the youth of your company. And not only does the mentee benefit, but oftentimes, the mentor learns some valuable insight during the process as well. The roundtable article, which begins on page 18, offers many excellent tips and suggestions for mentoring.
We have all been helped along the way. It is so important to always remember to “reach back” as one roundtable participant stated and help the next generation. So, if you’re in a position of leadership and you’re not currently mentoring, I encourage you to keep your eyes open for the opportunity. The candidate may be obvious or perhaps a diamond in the rough; find them and make yourself available. In this busy world, it’s not easy but I assure you, not only will the mentee benefit but you and your organization will as well. My mentor had a profound impact on my career. I look forward to my opportunity to inspire a younger businessperson to dream more, learn more, do more and become more.