As if being a manager wasn’t challenging enough, the stakes became considerably higher when the Covid-19 crisis took the world by storm. All things team management has come into question as you’ve delivered layoffs, altered work environments, and attempted to reframe everyone’s emotions about being in limbo. The quality of your leadership is not only questioned but tested now. 

As businesses reopen and the hospitality industry recalibrates, a new set of challenges will present themselves. Hospitality professionals everywhere will not only be looking for work but looking to workplace management to help them navigate new terrain. Here are a few approaches for you to consider in the post-Covid hospitality industry. 

Open Communication

Communication is key in any type of relationship, but this is especially true for work environments given the current climate. Companies’ diversity & inclusion policies, safety regulations, healthcare, and post-pandemic game plan are just a few of the things that are all under a microscope. Perhaps doubly so for employees. So, lead with compassion by sparing your employees the stress of wondering. Addressing any looming concerns swiftly and directly will leave more room for your team to focus on the task(s) at hand. 

Discussing these things earlier than you otherwise would, and keeping the lines of communication open, will undoubtedly save a lot of confusion and anxiety in the long run.

Prioritize Safety

Food safety and sanitation are undeniably paramount in the hospitality industry. These days, however, workplace safety extends far beyond simply wearing masks and adhering to proper food codes. In addition to ensuring the environment is hygienic for all, it’s up to the managerial staff to account for the daily safety and empowerment of each individual.

During a period of such great uncertainty, employees also want to feel safe. For some this will mean putting more effort toward cultivating an inclusive workplace—  see Hilton’s award-winning policy on diversity and inclusion. For others safety could involve helping them navigate work-related stress and burnout. For the best performance out of your team, pay attention to who needs what and when. 

Set Goals

With our personal and corporate futures being in limbo for months, finally knowing what comes next (if possible) is reassuring. Share with your team what weekly, monthly, and yearly goals they need to hit to maintain the company’s success. Not only will this give them something to strive for, but it will also help them feel included in the contingency plan. 

Be Considerate of Mental Health 

One of the most essential leadership qualities you could choose to share with your team is compassion. The worldwide emergency that is Covid-19 has taken a toll on everyone’s psyche, so working with that energy instead of against it could create a more sustainable environment for all. Rich Fernandez, CEO of the Search Inside Yourself Leadership Institute, a nonprofit organization that delivers mindfulness and emotional intelligence programs advises the following to help your team stay productive and enhance team experiences of well-being: 

• Encourage monotasking, or one-at-a-time deliverables, for better focus.
• Be intentional with downtime to help employees recharge and recover from busier times of the year.
• Model wellness practices by making personal development tools like mindfulness and resilience training accessible. 

Create Innovation

Christian Dior and Givenchy retailer LVMH paused perfume production to create hand sanitizer during the crisis. As a brand, it made a statement about its brand values and commitment to its customers’ humanity.

While you don’t have to switch your business model to create PPE, it would say a lot about your company to rearrange your daily practices. “Business as usual” isn’t the empathetic response to the pandemic that signals care and concern. Let your employees know you’re listening by doing something unconventional for your company or department.  Maybe that looks like extra visibility in your management presence or finding new ways to emphasize your company values or new tech that makes everyone’s work easier. 

Once you choose a focus, pay attention to the outcomes of your decisions, and learn from the feedback of your colleagues how you can aid them in dealing with such unforeseen circumstances.