Beyond Expectations
Part Three: Hospitality is a Gift You Give Yourself
In the final segment of this series, based on Will Guidara’s bestselling book Unreasonable Hospitality, we explore how fostering a culture of hospitality is a worthwhile investment from both a professional and personal standpoint.
As a business leader, you are always on the lookout for the best ways to grow your company. Imagine learning that making a tiny financial investment could improve almost every aspect of your business. That sounds like a pretty convincing argument to make such an investment. The principles and examples in Guidara’s book, make it clear that investing in serving and connecting with people will be more than worthwhile – for both your business and yourself.
Unreasonable Hospitality in Action
Choosing to focus on unreasonable hospitality in your business is an investment that will benefit your customers, employees, and yourself. The principles and practices Guidara shares can be used by any business.
Employee Satisfaction & Retention
- Give people a sense of belonging.
Your coworkers may not be family but treating them as if they are lets them know they “fit in” and have an important role in the team.
- Hospitality is a dialogue, not a monologue.
Be open to and appreciate feedback, even when it’s tough to hear.
- Be there for your team.
If you want your team to be there for you, it’s important to back them up when they need you.
- Clear goals and expectations.
Your team will be more aligned and motivated when each member understands the goal and is “rowing in the same direction.”
Customer Satisfaction
- Every customer-centered profession has the same goal – to connect with people genuinely.
Your customers can tell when you want to build an authentic, real connection with them.
- Cultivating a mindset of generosity and kindness improves customer loyalty.
People like to do business with people who make them feel valued.
Personal Satisfaction & Enjoyment
- Know why your work is important.
You need to personally identify why your work matters. When you enjoy what you do and share that enthusiasm with your customers and employees, it shows.
- Elevating service for everyone involved.
Hospitality enhances the experience for both the recipient and the provider.
More Joy and Human Connection
- Break down barriers.
Hospitality is about breaking down barriers, not putting them up.
- Serve your customers, not your ego.
Being right is irrelevant when your focus is on making others feel valued.
- Caring for people.
Being surrounded by people who care – about customers, team members, and themselves – creates a more enjoyable work environment, a more meaningful way to serve your customers, and a worthwhile way to spend your time.
Practicing Hospitality is a Gift You Give Yourself
Simply put, while you work to make a living, practicing hospitality is a way to improve your life. There is a well-known quote that illustrates this point: “At the end of the day people won’t remember what you said or did, they will remember how you made them feel.” The best principle from Will Guidara’s book is that “hospitality is a selfish pleasure – it feels great to make other people feel good.”
Like Will Guidara, your Westlark Advisors team believes in practicing unreasonable hospitality. We are committed to building trusted and mutually beneficial relationships with our energy industry clients.
We hope you have enjoyed our Beyond Expectations series. You can find the entire series here on our website, as well as our Soft Skills Matter series. If you would like more expert advice about navigating and thriving in today’s changing energy market, contact a Westlark Advisors team member today!
Beyond Expectations – Part Three: Hospitality is a Gift You Give Yourself
By Tina Schmitt
