Phone taken on marvelous holidays in Laos. I was seating with this kind men for hours, by the fire, just receiving his serenity and joy.
Above all, leaders are human. They are people who, like all of us, have weaknesses, qualities, good days and less good days. Like each one of us, they have fears, uncertainties, and security, and they also become disoriented when they were so sure of the way. But what sets them apart: leaders have a presence!
The challenges that any tourism company has to face still in the coming months, after a year that put many of us in an instinct for survival, are unquestionable. The current questions are difficult to answer: suspend the activity or keep the company working? How can we control costs, manage expenses without customers? How can we keep the teams motivated and ready for a new start? For the answers, we need leaders with:
COURAGE: FACE THE MOMENT
A leader will have to stop and re-evaluate processes, methods, and management style.
_ define a clear and precise list of priorities, a balanced path between the best and worst possible scenario
_ not to be afraid to close (a hotel, a restaurant, ...) if this is the solution to resist
RESILIENCE: ANALYSING ALL THE POSSIBILITIES
A leader will have to go beyond binary solutions (yes/no) and exhaust all possibilities.
_ evaluate solutions with other forms of sales, distribution, new products or services
_ evaluate all possible support from the government, Tourism of Portugal, and other entities to which they can turn.
INFLUENCE: MOBILISE THEIR TEAMS IN A JOINT RESPONSE
A leader will have to involve his teams in building the solution.
_ a sense of belonging: meeting with the teams to hear their ideas, their fears
_ positive, clear, honest, and regular communication. Involvement.
HOPE: DEFINING A CLEAR PATH WITH OBJECTIVES
A leader will have to be able to design a plan with several scenarios, not losing his purpose.
_ flexibility and adaptability in the design of action plans. Listening to the market, anticipating.
_ taking decisions based on a sustainable future (including the impact of sustainable tourism)
EMPATHY: PUTTING PEOPLE AT THE CENTRE OF BUSINESS AND DECISIONS
A leader will have to put the team first.
_ practice active listening. Listening and attending to the different needs of the teams
_ working on team motivation. training, psychological support, communication, ...
PRESENCE: MUST BE AT THE FOREFRONT OF ALL STAKEHOLDERS
A leader will have to move from self-centered management to eco-centric management.
_ develop collaborative management with all stakeholders
_ generate a circular economy, including the "next-door neighbor": who makes tours in your destination?
Being a leader requires now, more than ever, that we work with all our strengths. To just have the idea of firing people to keep the business is reductive and that's not being a leader. If we could build a path so far, we must be able to continue.
That's why self-knowledge is essential right now. A leader must know all his strengths so that he can strengthen them and have his best performance. He must take care of himself, every day. He must not isolate himself. Asking for help is not a sign of weakness, but of intelligence. He has no problem in showing our weaknesses and seeking a support network. Be humble and always want to learn.
Leaders are human!
And at this moment, what their teams, their followers ask of them is only trust, compassion, stability, and hope.* They will be the great leaders today, who will be at the head of great companies and great teams
*data collected from a Gallup article