Feeling overwhelmed in the hospitality industry?

Recognizing the signs of stress is the first step toward managing it effectively. In hospitality management, stress can manifest in various ways, such as irritability with staff or guests, difficulty sleeping, or constant exhaustion. It's essential to acknowledge these symptoms early and understand they are common responses to the high demands of the industry. For instance, I once noticed I was becoming short-tempered and struggling to sleep. Acknowledging these signs, I implemented stress-reduction techniques like regular breaks and mindfulness exercises. This proactive approach helped me manage stress better and maintain my performance and well-being.

Feeling overwhelmed in the hospitality industry is common, but manageable with the right strategies. Prioritize tasks and focus on one thing at a time to avoid feeling swamped. Delegate responsibilities to trusted team members and ensure open communication to share the workload effectively. Practice self-care by taking breaks and maintaining a healthy work-life balance. Lean on your support network, both professionally and personally, to provide guidance and encouragement. By staying organized, seeking help when needed, and taking care of yourself, you can manage overwhelm and thrive in the hospitality industry.

n hospitality, where customer satisfaction is paramount, it can be challenging to set boundaries without feeling like you're compromising service standards. However, establishing clear limits regarding your availability and work responsibilities is crucial for preventing burnout. For instance, I communicated to my team and superiors that my weekends were off-limits for work calls unless it was an emergency. This helped me recharge and set a healthy example for my colleagues. By respecting my time off and personal space, I could return to work more focused and energized, ultimately improving service quality.

With a never-ending to-do list, it's vital to determine which tasks are urgent and important and tackle those first. For example, during a busy season, I focused on high-priority tasks like guest satisfaction and event coordination. I also learned to delegate responsibilities, trusting my team to handle certain duties. This not only helped me manage my workload but also empowered my staff, giving them opportunities to grow and take on more responsibility. By prioritizing effectively, I maintained control and ensured smooth operations.

In hospitality we do get bogged down by a lot of surprise elements that can take over our day, such as a VIP arrival, demanding guest who requires attention or an emergency that comes up which requires your time & attention. In such situations, our own to-do list for the day gets disrupted & one is often left with nothing accomplished at the end of the day. I have found that embracing delegation in such situations is necessary to avoid over burden & over whelm. Delegating the right task to the right person, who will be able to complete it in a timely manner is essential & for that to happen, a leader must know the strengths of one's team members well & trust them to do the job correctly.

It's very easy, especially when rising the ranks early on in your career, to feel as if you need to constantly be proving yourself and taking on more to show your willingness, toughness, and "mettle". Working smarter, not harder is a crucial element to becoming wiser and more mature about how a true leader works and leads. Empowering your teams/peers is of utmost importance, be strategic in that by delegating tasks that are manageable and fit with the strong suits and skill set of who you're allocating it to. Give them the credit when it goes right and well, and make sure the team knows. Delegation will build trust and a foundational bond showing your willingness to relinquish and rely on your team to keep elevating the operation.

Our business is an exciting mix of emotional, intellectual and physical activity. Join it if you enjoy all three. If you keep working on these three you will be able to overcome any stress it brings.