The Workplace of the Future blurs the boundaries with the Hospitality Industry
5 Lessons from the Hospitality Industry for Workplaces & Culture.
As the world of work is involving rapidly, business leaders are increasingly faced with important questions: what are the characteristics of individuals who can thrive in an environment of fast and constant change? How can my business attract and retain this talent? What are their expectations from me as a leader? In short: in a world where businesses need talent, and talent can work anywhere, how do you make your business the right place for them to be? Although a relatively new question for most business sectors, it's not one for the hospitality industry. This is why we have identified five key lessons that business leaders can learn from the hospitality industry to transform their business into the place where talent will want to be. Let's dive in!
Lesson #1
Focus on the Experience.
The hospitality industry has always been known for its focus on creating experiences that attract customers, something that is now a trend in all other industries in relation to employees. This involves anticipating the needs and preferences of their people, responding to their requests, and exceeding their expectations. We already see this shift in the way that workplaces are designed: the home-to-work boundary is blurred through decompression zones, entertainment zones and private zones that bring the comfort of home... at work. Not only this, but the #workplaceofthefuture also takes care of the mental health of its users through design that is rich in natural elements, ample natural light and in technology that monitors the temperature and humidity of the environment. Added to all of these wonderful things, colorful details and branded elements ensure that a welcoming and engaging atmosphere is created.
Lesson #2
Flexibility.
If the hospitality industry can teach us one thing, it's flexibility. Just like guests in hotels come and go, the new trend of 'Hoteling' allows employees to do the same. With strategically designed lockers and flexible seating arrangements, each employee can book their preferred office space for the day and pack away their things at the end of the day, leaving the space clean and ready for the next person to use.
Lesson #3
Embracing Technology.
The hospitality industry has always been quick to embrace technology to improve operations, increase efficiency and enhance customer experience. With the Covid-19 pandemic, businesses that had been slow to embrace technology suffered major losses, making the importance of this practice globally recognized. Cloud services, platforms that enable collaboration between teams and easy communication have already been adopted by most companies, and will continue to grow as technology innovations such as quantum computing will allow for higher security.
Lesson #4
Continuous Improvement.
The hospitality industry is constantly evolving and businesses must keep up with the latest trends to remain competitive. A commitment to continuous improvement, where businesses strive to identify areas of improvement and work towards enhancing the experience is a key HR practice that can attract and retain talent and help leaders build a strong company culture.
Lesson #5
Training and Growth Opportunities.
The hospitality industry recognises the importance of having a skilled and knowledgeable workforce and takes responsibility for this area. Providing comprehensive training and development programs to staff is becoming a key practice that can build your team's confidence, competence and loyalty, helping your business grow more resilient and driving it to True Prosperity.
