Working in the hospitality industry, or as a manager in any service industry requires a number of hospitality management skills. We all know the necessity to build soft skills for the hospitality industry. One of the most important is leadership. After all, a good leader can inspire his or her staff to accomplish more than anyone may think is possible.
Plus, Glassdoor.com reports that 84% of organizations anticipate a shortfall of leaders in the next five years, so developing these skills can put you in a good position to grow in your career.
We have put together an non-exhaustive list of four of the essential books on leadership. Reading these and referring to them on a regular basis, could be an excellent way to help you become the leader your company needs.
1. Break All the Rules by Marcus Buckingham and Curt Coffman
This title is focused on breaking the old management “rules” that are regularly referenced by the old guard. You will find a number of tips on how to become a great manager by challenging these norms. The authors surveyed or reviewed over 80,000 managers to gain knowledge for this title, so you can trust that this is info to which you’ll be able to relate.
2. Start with Why by Simon Sinek
Start with Why is an inspirational book on how you can get your hospitality employers or customer service staff to take action by providing reasons for WHY you want people to do what you need them to do. The goal of this title is to help you become the manager you’ve always wanted it have.
3. The Art of War by Sun Tzu
While this book was written centuries ago about political and war strategy, it has information that can benefit nearly anyone who leads. Nearly every manager they can find something in this book that will help them defeat their 'enemies'--who may not be on the battlefield, but instead are in their industry.
4. The One Minute Manager by Kenneth Blanchard and Spencer Johnson
A well-known classic in the management field, this title explains the basics on how to manage people in a simple way. Tasks are broken down into “one minute chunks” -- essentially, it follows the old adage about “how do you eat an elephant?” “one bite at a time.”
While each of these books is different, they are all dedicated to helping you hone your management skills. As such, they all provide examples (both good and bad) on how to be the leader your company needs. We all know the importance of soft skills in hospitality. Combining these essential soft skills with leadership skills and with your education will help you become the very best you can be. Remember, every great manager needs knowledge in his or her field as well as leadership skills.
Want to read more about this topic? Check out our comprehensive list of hospitality skills for now and the future on our Swiss School of Tourism and Hospitality page.
As Sun Tzu (author of the Art of War) once said:
Opportunities multiply as they are seized.
