solviNG iNdustry ProblEMs
Harnessing Our Collective Wisdom
Engaging in regular, structured peer group meetings could be the answer to up-leveling your team, your effectiveness and ultimately your career. by lyNNE HitE
In the craziness of running a spa, we often find ourselves struggling to address the challenges and issues that most impact the effectiveness of our operations. On those occasions, wouldn’ t it be nice to know that you have already scheduled structured time with a group of brilliant, caring peers who can help you prioritize, focus and brainstorm? People who understand what you are dealing with and who can offer solutions, honest feedback and support?
As a former spa director and spa owner, I know how enticing this sounds. I can tell you from experience, having a supportive peer group offers all that and more.
In the mid-2000s as our industry was growing at a rapid rate, we spa leaders raced to put in the right systems and strategies not only to sustain the doubledigit growth in our businesses, but also to keep up with the demands of our spasavvy resort guests.
At the time, I worked for a resort management company that had 14 spas scattered throughout the United States. Five of the company’ s directors, myself included, were selected to form a spa leadership team. Our goal was to share best practices and create common business standards for our collection of spas.
We discovered the most effective way to accomplish this was to set up biweekly calls to brainstorm, share our challenges and provide feedback. Each spa
director had an area of expertise that she brought to the table. Our topics included retail, human resources, finance, customer service and training.
Our monthly meetings provided space where we could openly share the critical issues in our operations. In turn, we gained peer support and insight in addressing these challenges. The power of this collective wisdom, combined with the support of the group, transformed the way we showed up as leaders. As a result, there was a palpable difference in the quality of our work and our effectiveness.
Why is this relevant today? Our industry is still growing and evolving at a rapid rate. We are called upon to develop innovative business strategies and create inspired guest experiences. We must
30 PULSE ■ September 2017