People used to argue with me when I urged them to make work fun – many of them were convinced that work was just work. Well, it is that, but it doesn’t have to be. Sure, people must get things done, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be challenging, fulfilling, rewarding, and fun – it’s all in how it’s approached and supervised. I’ll be the first to admit that opening hotels is hard work – long days, complex issues, overwhelming volumes, and more of the same tomorrow. That’s why we planned fun and provocative pre-shift meetings, designed to not only set the schedule for the day but also to engage in lively discussions about what’s important and where we’re going. These daily messages started as discussion starters during one opening and that company decided to continue them (now 15 years and still going). It served as a thoughtful distraction, intended to get the group thinking about bigger pictures and exiting challenges. There were still the day’s routines, but after each meeting, the team was pumped up to try reaching new heights. If each day begins with a recommitment to excellence, normal routines become jumping off points. If everyone supports each other, the group’s energy carries everyone higher. It takes leaders who are aware and attuned, coaching where needed and commending as appropriate. That way, even the smallest tasks become elevated. And excellence becomes the standard. Make excellence something to have fun with today.
Leonard L. "Len" Berry (born 1942): University Distinguished Professor of Marketing at Mays Business School at Texas A&M University, and a senior fellow at the Institute for Healthcare Improvement. Check him out: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leonard_Berry
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