Leanne Harwood

This weeks Ted Talk was special! (Working our way through the top 30 Leadership Ted Talks) When I saw the name of the talk, I remembered it. The first time I listened to Chimamanda Ngozie Adiche was at the Cape Town International Convention Centre. I think it was back in 2009 and 15 years later if had as strong an impact on me today as it did then. I always learn when I watch a Ted Talk but I am not always moved. Thank you Rashid Toefy - it was maybe one of the first team talks when you shared this clip. Today’s Topic - The Danger of a single story. We guilty of this and many of us have been victims of it - viewing other or being viewed as a single story. Working in a foreign country with almost one third of the workforce being "imported labour" (the official term not my term) and divided into two categories- skilled and unskilled - makes it hard to view many in any other way but the story being sold to us. The next story that many individuals find themselves labeled by is their ability to speak a non native language. ( I have so many stories on that subject). After watching the video, we discussed the talk with a lot more passion and conviction than we did previously. We have all done this or been victim to this - "single story view “ We all had a story to share….. If you have a chance, take the time and check out this video. It is true today as it was 15 years ago It’s a lesson to us all, that we can share with our friends, families, kids , colleagues and those in our care. We need to change the narrative and break stereotypes. *launchin GTalks in October 🎤 Thank you Kathy Wong & Dex for organizing todays talk. It’s great to see other teams wanting to join our secession- Roger Lienhard and the F&B team. The more we learn together the faster we grow together ! Photo credit (me) with my Bee Happy coffee mug #bethechange #tedtalks #singlestory #leadship #changemaker #Teamlearning #GICC #GTalks #beehappy

18

1 Comment

ABOUT TRULY GREAT HOTEL MANAGERS This interview with an executive of The Peninsula Hotels that touches on their philosophy for hiring managers resonates with my own. If a hotel is able to hire a professional who trained at one of the world's top hotel schools, then the chance of getting the real deal hospitality package of skills and attitude is very high. Outside of these elite group of hotel professionals, it's like winning a lottery to hire someone with an authentic sense of hospitality. After interviewing so many potential candidates to replace my amazing general manager Napo -- yes, I won the lottery that time -- who has been with La Esperanza Granada since Day 1 but is soon embarking on the next chapter of his life, I realized that a real sense of service and a talent for organization is what I should be looking for and professional skills are desirable but only secondary. The skills can be learned via a hotel consultant over several weeks or months, but the real attitude is either there or not. And if you are the manager, it cannot be there only for eight hours of the working day. At least not if you are aiming for greatness.

7

Fly-in, fly-out work these days have come to mean white-collar jobs flying to a central office or client site for a block of days, then return home for their off days. Here's what companies can do to help them fend off fatigue and stress. @relocatemag #globalmobility #splitfamily #disruptivework

3

Veteran to Visionary: Leadership Lessons from the Field to the Boardroom (Part 1) In the realm of hospitality, leadership shapes more than just business strategies; it molds the very experiences we deliver to our guests. Drawing parallels from military service in the Navy Seabees to the corporate sphere, veterans like myself bring a unique set of skills and perspectives that are invaluable in the boardroom. Discipline, strategic foresight, and an unwavering commitment to excellence are not just virtues honed in the field; they are the bedrock of visionary leadership in hospitality. The transition from Seabee veteran to visionary is not merely about changing roles but transforming challenges into opportunities. It's about leveraging the rigor, structure, and adaptability learned in service to steer organizations through the unpredictable waves of the hospitality industry. The journey underlines the importance of resilience, a trait that ensures not just survival but thriving in the face of adversity. I find that, as a veteran, I bring a different kind of leadership role to the project and the impact extends beyond operational efficiencies. It's about fostering a culture of integrity, accountability, and mutual respect — principles that resonate deeply within the hospitality sector. #LeadershipLessons #VeteranToVisionary #HospitalityLeadership

15

2 Comments