Leading with Patience…by Gideon Moyo
Frankly, there are many things that I could share having hosted people for many years in different spaces, but first and foremost, hospitality teaches a very important lesson in patience. If you thought you already had patience, this space takes it to another level. A lot of people fail dismally in this field of work, not because they lack intelligence or are lazy, but because they may lack patience. Patience allows one to work very well with others and for the team to be understanding of each other. It doesn’t matter if you’re at the bar or behind it as a bar-back, whether you’re on the floor waitering, or in the kitchen being a culinary master or washing dishes. You will find that there is smooth flow in your work because you patiently organise yourself in such a way that you’re always consistent, committed and less frustrated.
If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.
Being organised comes with efficiency, and less room for errors such as shortages, wrong orders and/or wastage. Most importantly it’s in how quickly you recover from mistakes – don’t be too hard on yourself when you make a mistake. It’s always much more effectively handled with love. Holding on to a mistake is a terrible habit and a form of pride. It subtly shapes a nature of sorrow. Rather, move away from your mistakes and learn from them. The show must go on.
Honesty and integrity are of the utmost importance while working in such spaces, as well as being very entertaining and creative in terms of conversing and genuinely connecting with everyone in general, but especially forming a special bond with ALL guests while effectively multitasking… Enjoyment is everything because it is hard work… truth be told. You’ll find out that the smarter you work, the more profitable you are with your energy.
Working in the hospitality industry equips one with valuable life lessons for work and life in general. The choice to succeed in any endeavour is yours. It’s as potent as your vision and determines what becomes of your reality.