GM’s Don’t Grow by Just Tossing Them the Keys…

Why real leadership requires more than a promotion…You can’t just hand someone a P&L, give them the keys to the back office, and expect them to “lead” like it’s instinct.

Developing future hotel leaders, as GMs who can run the show without calling you every five minutes takes effort and time. This kind of development metric doesn’t show up on reports. These metrics are measured in time. Patience. Shadowing. Honest feedback. And lots of trust.

But here’s what we do instead: We fast-track someone because they crushed it in sales. Or because they’ve been loyal. Or because they’re a family member of the owners. We assume, “They’ve been around long enough, they’ll figure it out.”
Spoiler alert: they don’t. Not without guidance. Not without someone who’s been there helping them understand how to manage a budget and a busted water main, how to coach staff, and how to deal with ownership breathing down their neck.

Start by giving them a real problem to solve  of course with your guidance, not just another spreadsheet to fill.

I once told a first-time GM, “Your title doesn’t make you a leader. Your actions will.”
She didn’t quite understand that. Yet, a year later, after weathering staffing shortages and a burst pipe during a wedding on a weekend…she did.

If we want a stronger bench, we must build it. It won’t assemble itself.
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