There is an outdated image of the successful hotel General Manager: an authoritative figure walking the lobby, barking orders, and demanding perfection through fear. In today’s luxury landscape, this approach is not just ineffective; it is destructive.
The modern workforce, and indeed the discerning modern guest, demands a different kind of energy. They demand leaders who understand that true power doesn’t come from standing over your team, but from standing behind them.
This is the essence of Servant Leadership, a core principle that separates average managers from legendary hoteliers.
Flipping the Pyramid
In traditional corporate structures, the leader sits at the top of the pyramid, and everyone works to serve them. In hospitality, if you want excellence, you must invert that pyramid. The guests are at the top. Frontline employees are next, serving the guests. Leaders must be at the bottom, supporting the frontline.
Servant Leadership is not about being “soft.” It is fiercely strategic. It is the understanding that your primary role as a leader is to remove obstacles for your team. If a housekeeper needs better linen, you get it. If a receptionist needs training on a new system, you provide it.
When you serve your team, they feel valued, respected, and equipped. Only then can they genuinely pass that feeling on to the guest. You cannot demand warmth from staff who feel cold and unsupported.
The Practical Path to Serving
Implementing this style requires a massive ego shift, something Iwan Dietschi addresses head-on in Mastering Hospitality. It’s easy to talk about serving; it’s harder to do it when the pressure is on during peak season.
Dr. Dietschi’s guide moves beyond the theory and provides the practical steps to embody this leadership style daily. It teaches how to build trust through action, ensuring your team knows you are invested in their success, not just their output.
If you want to build a team that would follow you to any property on earth, you must learn to serve them first.
Lead by Lifting Others
Transform your leadership style from directive to supportive, and watch your guest satisfaction scores—and your career—rise.
👉 Learn the practical application of servant leadership in luxury hotels. Order your copy of Mastering Hospitality here: https://amzn.to/4rUKruw
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