Do you know an Awesome General Manager? Are you?

(Updated- April 24, 2017: Over 68,437 business professionals have read this article – Thank you! Please share it with someone you believe will appreciate these habits. Then join my newsletter to get more valuable insights and tips: Join here for Free)

I know, you work hard. You probably even work a million hours a week. Climbing up the ranks to the position of a hotel general manager is not an easy feat, so kudos to you. For sure, you are good at what you do and a hospitality expert in your own right.

That said, this doesn’t mean that there’s no more room for improvements. Today I’m talking about quality, rather than quantity. So what makes a general manager so awesome? This answer is subjective. We surveyed successful hotel managers as well as industry experts and came up with the following tips to help your become more effective in your position. Some of these you may already know but not doing and some may be completely new to you. Either way, take it as advice from a friend. Here are 15 Successful Habits of an Awesome General Manager.

1. Listen to Your Staff
One of the indications that you’re doing a good job as a hotel general manager is if your staff feel that they are truly part of your hotel. One of the faults of many hotel managers or anyone holding a managerial position for that matter is the tendency to be dismissive of their staff. Listen to them because they offer insights on how you can run the property better.

2. Share Your Knowledge
Teaching is part of your job as a hotel general manager. Sharing what you know to your staff will not only foster a sense of empowerment in your hotel. It would actually make your job easier because you’re equipping them with knowledge and skills they can use to perform their job without constant assistance from you.

GM Related: How to Pass Your Next Hotel QA Inspection 

3. Collaborate
More heads are better than one, right? Having regular collaboration sessions with your hotel staff can give you a well of ideas on how you can improve your hotel and even how you can generate more bookings and increase customer satisfaction.

4. Dedicate 30 Minutes A Day Reading Industry News
You should always be in the know when it comes to recent trends and news that might affect your hotel. We know you’re busy but set aside even just 30 minutes per day to read about industry news and trends. Set up a Feedly account or other RSS software online so everything you need to know are compiled in one place.

My Favorite Industry Sites: HotelMarketing.com HotelNewsNow.com EHotelier.com

5. Don’t Be Afraid to Ask for Help
Being a hotel manager is one of the most stressful jobs in the world and one reason for this is that most managers are ashamed to ask for help. Even though you’re expected to be able to handle everything that comes your way, everyone has a limit. When you reach this limit, don’t be afraid to tap into your staff and ask for help.

6. Don’t Pretend That You Know Everything
When someone from your team ask you something and you don’t know the answer, don’t be embarrassed to admit it. Just say that you don’t know the answer and that you’ll get back to him or her once you know.

7. Motivate People
You are your hotel staff’s biggest cheerleader. Egg them on when they are exhausted and make them realize that they are part of something bigger than themselves and that they are essential in achieving a worthy cause.

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8. Welcome Criticisms
Nobody’s perfect, even a hotel manager like you make mistakes – whether you’re conscious about it or not. Instead of being defensive, take criticisms as stepping stones to get better at your job.

9. Get to Know Your Hotel Staff in a More Personal Level
Of course, you still have to maintain a certain level of “distance” between you and your hotel staff, but you also have to make sure that you are interested to get to know them personally. Studies would show that businesses who treat their employees as family have higher productivity and better workplace morale.

Working at the front desk? Here are 10 Traits of a Great Hotel Front Desk Agent

10. Give Credit Where Credit is Due
There are some hotel managers who take all the credit for the hotel’s success. Hotel employees hate credit mongers, especially if it’s the manager doing it. Give credit where credit is due and acknowledge the hard work of your hotel staff. Read: Why Incentivize Employees?

11. Don’t Micromanage
No one likes their manager breathing down their neck every single time. Give directions to your staff, but never ever micromanage.

12. Always Have the Interest of the Hotel In Mind
Every employee in your hotel will have his or her own interest and it would drive you insane if you’ll try to accommodate every single agenda. To remain impartial, always remember that your first responsibility is to protect the interest of the hotel you work for.

13. Project A Service Oriented Attitude
At the end of the day, the hospitality industry is all about delivering exceptional service to travelers. Your management style should also mirror the same principle.

14. Never Be Afraid of Change
The hospitality industry is evolving every day. In your hotel, this might be a change in policies, staff attrition or a new technology. Don’t be scare of change. Embrace it. If your employees see that you are adopting to change rather than resisting it, they would follow suit.

15. Be A Great Communicator
Your staff needs to know where you want to stir your hotel to. You have to be clear on your vision so you can encourage everyone to work toward the same goal. Imagine a rowing team. Do you think a team can win a race if the one giving the paddling instructions isn’t a good communicator? Not really. Be clear and be persuasive.

Knowing that you’re making a difference in other people’s lives is partly why we chose the hospitality industry. The way you interact with your staff, guests and surrounds will most likely contribute to your attributions of being great or awesome!

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As always, I wish you and your hotel the best of luck!

What are some habits thhttp://lodgingleaders.com/107-15-successful-habits-awesome-general-manager-rupesh-patel/at make you an awesome hotelier? I would love to hear from you, share your comments below.

Have a successful day!

– Rupesh Patel

PS– Take time for yourself, away from work. You deserve it!!