If you want to work within an industry where advancement possibilities are virtually limitless, you’ve made the right choice in hospitality. From dishwashers who’ve become renowned chefs and restauranteurs to housekeepers who’ve worked their way up to the position of general manager, professionals throughout the industry are living their own tales of ever-increasing success. Of course, you need to have the right personality if you want to make a leap of your own. Consider these traits that should boost your chances of promotion.
1. You’re a true team player.
Are you able to put personality differences aside and work collaboratively with anyone? Does the rest of your department often look to you for direction when they need to rally together and get things done? Do you tend to make personal sacrifices for the good of your coworkers, whether that means coming in early, skipping lunch, leaving late, or picking up extra shifts? If you can answer yes to most of these questions, you’re a true team player—a very valuable characteristic if you’d eventually like a promotion to management.
2. You’re a creative thinker.
While you always follow the rules and are well-versed in the procedures necessary to accomplish the tasks of your position, you’re not afraid to ask “What if?” and look for ways to get the same work done more efficiently or accurately. As a creative thinker, you excel at thinking on your feet, coming up with workable solutions to unfamiliar problems, and seeing the forest as well as the trees.
3. You’re eager to continue learning.
The hospitality industry is continually changing, and hotel management professionals need to be able to change with it. If you never hesitate to accept a cross-training opportunity, pursue continuing education whenever possible, and stay on top of the latest hotel trends, your eagerness to learn could help you land a management promotion.
4. You’re naturally organized.
Hotel management requires the juggling of numerous responsibilities. From recruiting and training department staff to scheduling shifts and delegating duties, neglecting one area and the entire team may fall apart. The larger the hotel, the more important your talent for organization will be in the event that you are eventually promoted.
5. You have integrity.
Are you always (tactfully) honest with coworkers and guests? Do your supervisors know they can count on you without hesitation? Do you always treat people fairly, follow the rules, and do what you’ll say you’ll do without fail? If so, you have integrity—an essential personality trait common among the best hotel managers.
6. You’re generally optimistic.
Inspiring others is impossible if you spend all your time dwelling on the negative. If you’re the one who keeps your department’s morale up with a shift becomes stressful, can identify the positives in any challenging situation, and embrace the possibilities inherent in change rather than fearing them, your enduring optimism may help you earn a promotion to hotel management.
7. You remain calm when stressed.
From angry guests and maintenance emergencies to chronically late team members and endless meetings with executives, hotel managers have to deal with a lot of situations that naturally cause stress. The best of them are able to remain calm, think clearly, and behave professionally regardless. If you’d like to eventually join the management ranks, make sure you demonstrate this personality trait whenever possible.