Great managers are not automatically great leaders. Anybody who had to work for a “Michael Scott” type of boss knows exactly what that means. For people who did not experience bad leadership yet, consider yourself lucky!

But what differentiates a good leader from a regular boss? And how come some people that have not even earned a title or managerial position yet are more able to lead a team than some CEO with decades worth of professional experience?

Well, to be frank, some people simply do not walk the walk, but merely talk the talk. As a keen observer, you might have noticed such discrepancies in your own working environment, or your partner might tell you all about his/her annoying boss.

Especially in hospitality, which is one of the most competitive and challenging industries, effective leaders are the enablers of success. But how can one become an inspirational leader figure for others in such a challenging environment?

Well, if you want to climb the career ladder and want to avoid being the antagonist of a family dinner story then here are some habits that you can adopt yourself to ensure that you walk the walk of an inspiring leader.

1.    Habits of successful leaders: Organization is key

“A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.“—John Maxwell

A successful leader is on time, and on point. They do not miss an appointment and do not forget about a task. Successful leaders maintain control over all their responsibilities whilst simultaneously overseeing the whole team’s responsibilities. Successful leaders plan their days in advance and they have clear lists of priorities. What makes a priority? Well, that is up to the leader to decide. Usually, it depends on the tasks’ urgency and importance.

There is a big difference between urgency and importance. Not all tasks that are urgent are important, and not all tasks that are important are urgent. A successful leader knows how to adapt the schedule to deal with unannounced urgent tasks and he knows how to maneuver around a full schedule.

Leaders are masters of their schedules, and they dedicate time to adhere to their schedules. Planning and consulting the schedule daily is an essential habit of being a successful leader.

2.     Habits of successful leaders: Never stop your growth

“Before you are a leader, success is all about growing yourself. When you become a leader, success is all about growing others.” —Jack Welch

There is one simple trait that most successful leaders have in common: they are continuously learning. No one is perfect and we all can grow in various ways. Successful leaders have understood that they need to constantly develop themselves.

For example: what do Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, Mark Zuckerberg, and Mark Cuban have in common? They all read. Daily. They established the habit of reading every day and so they are able to continually expand their mental capacity, increase creativity and gain inspiration.

On another note, you should also try to develop physically. Successful leaders keep themselves fit and in shape. A healthy body and a healthy mind are key aspects of inspiring leaders. Exercise regularly and challenge yourself to develop your fitness. Physical activity not only has numerous health benefits, but it also helps to relax, clear your mind, increase your creativity, and improve your mental processing.

3.    Habits of successful leaders: Power of Positivity!

“A great leader's courage to fulfill his vision comes from passion, not position.” —John Maxwell

Last but not least, great leaders think positively. There is a very common saying about “the power of positive thinking” and many scholars have debated its validity. To no surprise, it actually works. Thinking positively allows you to gain a greater chance of accomplishing what you set out to do than if you think negatively. By no means does this imply that you will miraculously gain success just by thinking positively about it (like some self-proclaimed gurus want you to believe), rather it means that if you are not thinking positively, there is a greater chance of you failing.

There are many scientists who even confirmed that the power of positivity has an undeniable effect on the success rate of projects or other endeavors. Also, many books have been written about it. One of the author’s favorites is Mindset: The Psychology of Success (Carol Dweck) which clearly elaborates on how limiting a negative (or fixed) mindset is in contrast to a positive (or growth) mindset. Even the great Bill Marriott's 12th rule of success states: “View every problem as an opportunity to grow” and his success alone should clearly convince you of its usefulness.

So, in oversimplified terms, if you want to become a great leader you need to:

·      Be organized

·      Develop yourself physically & mentally

·      Stay positive

If you want to become a successful leader just like Bill Marriott or Elon Musk, Hospitality Academy can help! We offer an extensive range of programs and courses, ideal to develop your knowledge and contribute to your guaranteed professional success! If you are interested in our study programs, send an email to admissions@pihospitalityacademy.com to receive more information!