was not only careers that were on the line . Confronted with a potentially fatal virus , people were forced to confront their own mortality . Mortality salience leads people to consider their existence , raising other questions : “ Am I doing what is most important to me right now ? Am I living the life I have always wanted to live ?” Corporate work , which used to be the key to a happier more prosperous life , is now competing with other alternatives . Working for “ the man ” is optional .
During COVID-19 , people have made big life decisions . They ’ ve decided to get married or get divorced , to have kids , to buy a pet or pursue a personal passion . They ’ ve chosen to move closer to family or to move outside of the city . And many have decided to leave their jobs , no longer willing to put up with the stresses of long hours , intolerable bosses and toilsome commutes . In the “ great re-prioritization ” the salary and benefits that tied them to this corporate lifestyle no longer measure up .
So we find ourselves in a position that nobody expected . We thought we would have to convince customers to come back to our businesses when , in fact , it is the workers that need to be convinced . Going forward , the most important skill for the hospitality industry is not expertise in sales or marketing or revenue management , it is compassionate leadership . The businesses that will survive and thrive will be those with leaders who can create a workplace environment that is rewarding and fulfilling , that respects workers ’ personal time and that supports their personal aspirations and ambitions .
Compassionate leadership is not new . It ’ s comprised of all the things we know we should be doing but sometimes don ’ t . Listen more than talk . Hold a long-term perspective . Engage with all stake holders and hold their humanity sacred . Consider not only the mental and physical wellbeing of your colleagues , but their emotional and spiritual well-being as well . None of these ideas are novel , they are just more important now than they have ever been .
“ We work in a business where we can see the direct impact of our work on every customer who comes through our doors . But employee expectations are changing rapidly , and the leader of tomorrow will need new skills to attract and retain the best talent .”
Leadership has always been about creating a compelling vision that inspires and motivates and brings people together to work towards a common goal . But a compassionate leader doesn ’ t expect everyone to share the same goal . They recognize each member of the team as an individual , they get to know their strengths , their goals and their dreams . The compassionate leader toils tirelessly , not only on behalf of the corporate mission or the business ’ bottom line , but to help each team member fulfill their own dreams and visions .
Here are some things you can do with your own team to practice compassionate leadership : 1 . Talk to people . Make sure you have quality one-on-one time with each of your employees on a regular basis . You need sufficient time and trust to really dig into deep meaningful topics such as personal goals and significant challenges . These are the kinds of subjects that won ’ t get covered
FEBRUARY / MARCH 2022 ■ PULSE 21