Having the ideal hospitality supervisor is what turns a good team into a great team. Why? Great leaders bond team members together the right way, they organise people according to their strengths and lead by example.
The perfect supervisor is the person that knowingly motivates and moulds their team. In hospitality, having the right person lead a team is crucial, more important than most over industries. When work is fast paced, demanding and wholly-reliant on synergy, having the right person at the helm can spell the difference between sailing or sinking.
The essential characteristics of an ideal hospitality supervisor are likely to differ slightly to, say, an office or even retail supervisor. It’s right in saying that you shouldn’t generalise when it comes to hospitality teams (they get enough stick as it is!), but there are certain skills and aptitudes that should be evident in every leader.
Being able to spot the right person for the job, especially in industries like hospitality or casinos where time is a precious resource, is priceless. Take a look at these proficiencies and learn to recognise them in your current team members. That way you could spot the next ideal supervisor emerging before they even realise that they want the job.
They put communication first
Great leaders know how to communicate and they do so freely and openly. Take a look at your team members. Are they consistently shouting to prove their own point or do they communicate efficiently with a view to finding the ideal resolution for the customer and the business?
Their criticism is healthy and motivational
Supervisors should be able to critique those around them openly, but not in a negative way. They should be able to approach criticism as a positive thing - both for themselves and others. As a general rule, if they can’t take it well, they won’t be able to dish it out well.
They are self-aware
The ideal hospitality supervisor is aware of their own strengths and weaknesses, using the former to assist other people while striving to build on the latter. They will be passionate about learning and being the best version of themselves. Often, they are their own biggest critic - but they don’t beat themselves up about their weaknesses. They see them as something to build upon and an opportunity to let somebody else shine.
They are perceptive and observant
Are they running around self-consumed, or do they constantly know the wider story of what is happening at your business in any given moment? Being aware of their work environment is arguably the most important characteristic of a hospitality supervisor as they need to know what is going on everywhere in order to manage it.
They leverage seriousness with lightheartedness
Their presence is motivational because they know how to read situations. If it requires firm leadership, they will take the mantle, however they are just as willing to approach some situations with a sense of humour. Too much of either is often a warning sign.