The Top Traits of Successful Hospitality Employees
Millions of Americans are employed in the hospitality industry — and many couldn’t imagine working anywhere else. It’s an area with a wide variety of career options, but this field isn’t a great fit for everyone, as a very special personality is needed to succeed. If you’re a professional considering entering the industry or an employer searching for workers to join your team, learn seven traits needed to excel in the hospitality sphere. Personable Most employees in the hospitality industry are frequently face to face with customers, so being friendly and outgoing is a must. If clients are made to feel unwelcome by a rude, unpleasant staff member, they’ll take their business elsewhere. Team Player First and foremost, the job of hospitality industry employees is to provide guests with an outstanding experience. Each staffer has a defined role, but the customer is always the number one focus, so people have to be willing to pitch in anywhere they’re needed. Patient Working with some customers can be trying, but the best hospitality workers are always able to remain calm and collected. Incredibly tolerant, these people don’t sweat the small stuff. Their easy-going disposition always makes guests feel comfortable and appreciated. Good Listener The ability to listen attentively is a must in the hospitality industry. Whether tending to the needs of a guest or taking directions from a supervisor, employees must listen carefully so they can take the appropriate action. Excellent Multitasker Everything moves at rapid pace in this industry, so employees must have the capacity to do many things at once. For example, bartenders must be able to greet customers sitting down at the bar, while making drinks for those who have just ordered. Organized Staying organized is the secret to successful multitasking, so employees need the capacity to put a system in place to maintain order at all times. Everything takes longer when working in a constant state of disarray. Detail-Oriented In this industry, it’s often the little things that mean the most, so staffers must pay attention to every last detail. For example, you want a hotel housekeeper who takes the time to carefully inspect every surface in the room to ensure not a speck of dirt is left, instead of someone who tries to get their job done as quickly as possible. The hospitality industry is a major force in Miami. Whether you’re a professional searching for a new challenge or an employer trying to find top talent to staff your company, RMG Staffing is here to assist. Contact us to today to learn more about our exemplary staffing solutions and outstanding career opportunities in a variety of roles.
Are Your Performance Reviews Effective?
Many managers and employees alike dread performance reviews, but when properly conducted, these meetings can be incredibly beneficial to everyone. If you’re currently brushing this task off as grating formality, it’s time to start taking it seriously. Turnover in the accommodation and food services industries increased from 66.7 percent in 2014 to 72.1 percent in 2015, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, so if you don’t dedicate extra effort to employee satisfaction, your staff won’t think twice about moving on to your competitor. Performance reviews can be beneficial to make your company a better place to work and increase your bottom line. 4 Tips for an Effective Hospitality Industry Performance Review Give Meaningful Feedback Providing employees with vague feedback is helpful to no one, so take the time to gather truly relevant insights. Cite specific examples of things each person is doing well and areas for improvement. For example, instead of commending your bartender for doing great work, praise the person’s ability to make drinks customers rave about on Yelp, keep people engaged in conversation so they spend more money and fill orders quickly. Set Measureable Objectives Similar to giving unclear feedback, setting ambiguous goals creates more confusion than benefits. Get on the same page with your staff by creating specific goals for each person to achieve. For example, instead of asking a server to concentrate on upselling, challenge the person to increase their total sales volume by 10 percent in the next six months. Make it a Two-Way Conversation As the manager, you’re responsible for leading the performance review, but the discussion shouldn’t be one-sided. Use this time to gain valuable insights from each employee. Find out how things are going with the person’s job, ask about skills they’d like to learn or different roles they’re interested in transitioning into, get ideas to better serve customers and see if staffers have any suggestions to make the company more efficient. Meet With the Employee Regularly Holding performance reviews annually is never a good idea, but the hospitality industry’s sky-high turnover levels make it even more important for this to be an ongoing process. Meet with each person on your team at least quarterly — monthly if possible — to touch base. Job satisfaction levels increase when employees know their manager cares, so this can help boost retention rates. These meetings are also a great time to review progress toward goals and make any necessary adjustments. Partner with RMG Staffing to find passionate and engaged hospitality industry professionals to join your Miami company. We offer temp-to-hire, direct hire, and payroll positions and temporary staffing for banquet events.