All of us have staff who need to be ready for rapid promotion. Assistant F&B’s, Restaurant and Beverage Managers, Banquet Managers and Captains, Catering Managers and Sales Managers, and others needing rapid development. Opportunities for promotion in F&B Departments are never ending.
Besides promoting within F&B, many have skills attractive to other Departments.
There must be 1000 leadership books. Thousands of Leadership Coaches. Hundreds of training programs. Practically everyone has ideas on how people can lead and learn.
As good as those are, there is something better. The current F&B Director and perhaps some of their staff.
Hotel training budgets are well known for frugalness. Why waste time going after those?
Our search firm has been around decades. We’ve placed thousands. Had the opportunity to work with some very successful hotel and resort F&B Directors. Most successful have one trait in common: F&B Director is training their staff daily.
They continually are watching for “teaching moments.” When they can offer encouragement, suggestions, show employees a “tip” in few seconds. Point an optional way.
The best we have known go one step further. They ask question at end, to see if employee understood message. That gives F&B Director, or person coaching, opportunity to offer one additional bit of information to reinforce. That’s their “secret sauce.”
We have had chance to observe these F&B Directors in hotels, resorts, and companies thousands of times. Amazing how much they share in a day…a minute at a time. They touch most of their staff. No formal training time or budget. Or special staff meetings. Just simple sharing of their knowledge.
Morale when we have visited? Sky high. Employees who are cared about ask questions. Want to learn more. They make sure guests and fellow employees are supported. It shows as we walk around these properties.
ADDED BONUS: Those employees start sharing their knowledge. Force multipliers.
As a result, when promotional opportunities arise they have employees that are at least partially ready. Those employees have demonstrated their willingness to learn. Go the extra mile. The very people all hotels want to promote.
Try it. Simple sincere compliment. Quick tip. Show better way.
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Tom Ferree is the founder of Ferree & Associates and SecureEmploy, organizations focused on helping companies find exceptional talent and helping professionals advance their careers. Since founding Ferree & Associates in 1977, Tom has worked extensively with hospitality companies, executives, and rising leaders across the industry. Through SecureEmploy, he shares practical career strategies, leadership insights, and real-world advice to help professionals grow their careers and help organizations build stronger teams.
