Well hello there hospitality friends it’s that time again as we take a slightly meandering trip through my industry and introspective musings.
They say that Easter brings new life and new perspectives to the world and hospitality is no different. There is somewhat of a lightening as we finally drag ourselves out of winter and into daylight saving (our favourite part of the year). It’s hard not to feel a little more positive for the coming year as the nights get lighter and we breathe a slight sigh of relief that last year is over and new financial one begins. New hopes and dreams, new aspirations and well yes, a dare we say it, optimism.
Sometimes it is a little challenging to see the opportunities when some of us are still a little battered and bruised by some massive challenges we face as a sector. Now, I’m all for improving the living wage. People need to afford to live a good life and hospitality folk have been notoriously poorly paid for forever and a day, but there is a huge burden hitting us with the wage & NI increases. Everyone is in the same boat; I get it and yes, I want to lift everyone up, but I don’t have to tell you margins are notoriously tight in hospitality. It’s difficult when the calendar flips over and all of a sudden, your wage costs shoot up and your revenue doesn’t. It’s a tough pill to take and without anything else to help offset or support you could be forgiven to be left feeling a little unloved. Forgotten. Abandoned even well, you are not alone….I am here with you. Sorry bit of classic MJ there.
So as the industry pulls together to “go again” you could be mistaken to think that this ride is just too tough. In fact, we have seen hundreds of businesses simply give up and close their doors. This is devastating but far from surprising. My heart goes out to the people who have worked so hard and simply can’t make it right. We really need entrepreneurs in hospitality, we need pioneers, the dreamers to keep the game changing.
So why did I call this column optimism? Well even in these difficult situations I find myself and my team looking for solutions. Looking for inspiration. Going back around the revenue cycle again looking at where we can improve rate, manage costs and drive revenue. The ideas keep the wheels turning and keeps us moving forward but it takes a lot of work. Some people are born creative, they just have the flair for thinking in a different way. For imagining better and different ways of doing things. They make the impossible a potential. No, as I love to say, is a starting point for negotiation. My old sales training kicks in here… “so what would have to happen to make that no a yes”? it’s here we can choose to get creative and suddenly the optimism and opportunity grows.
I love having these people in my team. It doesn’t matter which department they work in, they can solve problems anywhere. You can spot them in your team too. They don’t always step forward but given the right forum they, more often than not just come up with absolute gold. So, getting some platforms for discussion and some ‘off-the-wall’ thinking is critical at this time of year. Open the gates to the problem and let’s see who holds the secret to the solution. Being open about challenges means there are more people working on the solution. So, get talking, get people involved and let’s get everyone playing their part to solve the problems.
I’ve found optimism helps in most situations. Even the direst ones. When my son was injured 12 years ago, we spent months in hospital. They were very dark times and despair, and fear was all around us. Somehow, we held tight to our optimism. To our positive language. To the idea that we could by all means possible navigate this to a successful future. It was tough and some days almost a physical act to lift up your spirits, but the prize is ultimately worth it. Our win would be glorious (and it is). Optimism helps when that win falls a little short too. It’s a constant re-evaluation of what might work or in my life the “what happens next?”. This power of thinking, of forward motion will help you out of the worst situations.
Optimism isn’t about blind hope. It comes with some essential tools in its kit bag. Firstly, to be optimistic you have to let go. Release your pre-conceived views and ideas. Open to the possibilities you don’t yet know. Some of which may be alien or completely outlandish for you, but it’s here we grow. It’s so much easier to imagine a difficult outcome, to predict failure to expect the worst. Optimists stand in the face of failure and just think it through different way.
Optimists are brave they have thick skin and are constantly surrounded by nay-sayers.
They are the ones who stand up and speak up. They can be ridiculed or overlooked but they always hold true. Paradoxically, it’s not easy being an optimist. But the results are so rewarding.
Finally, to be optimistic means must think your way around and through problems to see or at least imagine a different outcome. Optimism pushes you to get creative and to leave no stone unturned. It brings out the dreamer in all of us and surely that’s something we should encourage more in life as well as work.
Optimism is infectious too. It breeds quickly and infects everyone (well most). So, getting your teams to get together to look at the big issues is critical. Its only by being open and engaging with others that we really grow.
I’m lucky to know so many optimistic people who when I feel low or stifled by my situation, simply turn the light on. I’m lucky. If you’re the optimist in your family, group of work then thank you. I owe my career and my happiness to many of you who have helped imagine my life in a positive way.
If you’re not the optimist (yet, she says ever hopeful) I revert to my earlier sentiments – Let’s get a little off the wall and see where it takes this amazing industry of ours.
‘til next time,
Kellie
Kellie Rixon MBE FIH, a hospitality girl
