Leadership Insights: What Made the Sheraton Hotels Grow
WHAT MADE THE SHERATON HOTELS GROW
My father, Ernest Henderson, built the Sheraton hotels from one hotel to more than 400 during his lifetime. I’d often ask him the secrets of how he did it. One of his answers was: “It’s the employees at every level who make a hotel a success.”
So what did he do to create engaged, committed employees?
Success Tip: Employees at every level create success.
Create a Better Vision
My father created for people a better vision of themselves.
When he’d take over a hotel (often a bankrupt one) he’d typically make it wildly popular and profitable within a couple of years. Here’s how it was done. On day one, he’d start by calling a meeting of all the hotel’s employees. They’d often be a very demoralized group, each employee worrying that the new management would want to do some house cleaning. After all, if a hotel was in severe financial straights, wouldn’t it be reasonable to believe that the employees were at least partly responsible? And needed to go?
Father’s reaction was the opposite. He believed in the employees and told them at this first meeting that he wasn’t going to fire any of them. Instead, the new management style was based on making it possible for them to show just how good they were. He’d also tell them that he knew the future success of the hotel depended on them and they were now on a winning team with a bright future.
Then, beginning that day, he’d start backing up his words with actions. Part of a hotel turnaround would be refurbishing the guest rooms and public rooms, but that was never where he first invested money when taking over a hotel.
Success Tip: Give people a bigger vision for themselves.
No, it was in refurbishing areas that the public would never see, such as the employee locker rooms or dining rooms or showers or modernizing the kitchens or laundry rooms. He even had his top decorator, Mary Kennedy, pay attention to the decor of the employee areas before she went about renovating the guest rooms.
Define a New Reality
It was a powerful signal to the employees, one of many they’d experience throughout their time at Sheraton, that Father valued their contribution and knew that they were the ones who could make the hotels a success. He was a big believer that people want to live up to your expectations, and since he demonstrated that he believed in them, they typically stayed with him for life and did far better than they ever had before.
Success Tip: Set high expectations and watch people live up to them.
To repeat, father accomplished this be creating for people a better vision of themselves. He defined a new reality for them.
Originally from http://www.skipprichard.com/create-a-better-vision-to-engage-your-employees/
Search Articles
Latest Articles
Ukraine’s Secret Hospital Train
https://spectator.org/ukraines-secret-hospital-train/ Publication – spectator.org
Ukraine’s Irradiated Scrapyard Is a Global Health Hazard
https://www.kyivpost.com/post/30760 Publication – kyivpost.com
As Russia Tortures Evangelical Christians, US Baptists Urge House Speaker Johnson to Take Action
https://cmsedit.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2024/april/as-russia-tortures-evangelical-christians-us-baptists-urge-house-speaker-johnson-to-take-action Publication – cmsedit.cbn.com
Prosecute or Move On?
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/to-end-human-trafficking/202404/prosecute-or-move-on Publication – psychologytoday.com
Subscribe to Updates
About Author
Mitzi Perdue is the widow of the poultry magnate, Frank Perdue. She’s the author of How To Make Your Family Business Last and 52 Tips to Combat Human Trafficking. Contact her at www.MitziPerdue.com
All Articles
Redefine Failure
Redefine FailureIf we met in person, I can’t know how I come across, but I’d make a guess that you’d see me as someone who’s self-confident, enjoys being with you, and who’s maybe had some successes in life. But I think you’d be completely shocked if you had known me...
Hell With The Lid Off – Workbook
Hell With The Lid Off - WorkbookSometime in your work life you have had, are having, or will have a “You’re about to go down in flames experience.” It might be your company, your project or your job. What can you do? I’ve watched a number of successful people,...
Hell With The Lid Off: Do you have a Project Crisis? Things You Can Do To Rescue It
Hell With The Lid Off: Do you have a Project Crisis? Things You Can Do To Rescue ItIn theory, you can’t put a price on family happiness. At some time in your work life you have had or will have a Project Crisis; a “You’re about To Be Shut Down” experience. It might...
Tending Your Flock Ten Ways To Nurture Family Cohesiveness
Tending Your Flock Ten Ways To Nurture Family CohesivenessIn theory, you can’t put a price on family happiness. In practice, I think I can put a price on it. I know a woman who inherited a billion dollars. Once, when I was mentioning that I was going home for...
Diabetes During and Past The Reproductive Years
Diabetes During and Past The Reproductive YearsABNORMAL GLUCOSE IN PREGNANT WOMEN: A WINDOW INTO FUTURE RISKS Pregnancy is an insulin-resistant state, so future problems with diabetes may show up during this time. Although a pregnant woman with abnormal glucose may...
Migraines
Migraines MIGRAINES ARE A GENDER-RELATED DISORDER In the course of a year, 18% of American women will have at least one migraine headache while the corresponding percentage for men is 6%. There are strong hormonal links to migraine, with the incidence of migraines...