Tips for Maintaining Great Female Leaders
Thoughts for a new year on the advancement of woman in the hospitality industry
by Andrea Davenport

As each New Year rolls in, I have hopes of change and commitment for the hospitality industry. The New Year symbolizes a new start that somehow refreshes the sins of our prior year. One of my hopes this year is that we see increasing opportunities for women to grow and succeed in our industry.

By 2010, it is estimated that women will make up approximately 48% of the workforce. Where could we be by 2020? This is an industry that is clearly dominated by women but doesn’t have a lot of female representation at the top. Most women will admit they are looking for a company that is balanced and inclusive. I have had to ask myself - do women not want the opportunities or are there too many sacrifices to get there?

Women can become worn down or disillusioned trying to break through the glass ceiling or not being used to their full potential. For me, elevating myself in the hospitality industry has more to do with continuous learning and building relationships as opposed to resume building or titles. One great thing about our industry is that it has been built on giving back. For all of us, someone in our past recognized our potential and encouraged us to participate and be passionate about the business.

We are counting on the next generation of female workers to be smarter and stronger than us. We have seen an emerging pattern of women leaders stepping forward in restaurants, hotels, catering, resorts, and spas over the last few years. The demand for hospitality professionals is growing. I hope that future generations of females continue to be represented in leadership positions.

There is no quick, easy and inexpensive “silver bullet” to help you win the war of female talent. Business has its highs and lows and so do many women in the business. Here are five ideas to consider and challenge yourself with in the New Year.

1. Identify what is important to you. If you don’t know where you’re going chances are you aren’t getting anywhere. Taking time to do your own heart check is vital. If family and balancing your life is important at this juncture – then take hold of it and enjoy it. Making the choice without guilt is a liberating experience that can strengthen you. A career is a life long approach, take the time to become a better version of yourself, and then you are unstoppable.

2. Make a commitment to learning. Having a successful career in our industry takes work and education for both men and women. You must be willing to put in your time. Work additional hours, take the initiative on projects, and show leadership in the field. Even if you can’t commit to formally furthering your education through advanced degrees, try to tackle it in smaller pieces. Attain professional development with seminars, staying current on trade journals, knowing your competition, attending trade shows, and joining a professional organization that will offer networking and education. Sometimes joining a professional organization and volunteering will get you exposure to new skills that your current job doesn’t offer (e.g., volunteering to be a treasurer for a committee because your current job doesn’t offer financial or P&L responsibility). Women can boost their self esteem and value in their organizations through these efforts. Your organization will benefit too.

3. Find a mentor. It doesn’t necessarily have to be a woman. A mentoring relationship would be an added benefit to you and the organization you work for. The ideal person would be someone who you connect with who is supportive, nurturing, assertive and has the guts to give you the honest feedback Article by Andrea Davenport Director of Recruiting Ninety Nine Restaurants www.99restaurants.com Great Female Leaders – Davenport – 1-15-08 2 you deserve. You should be thankful and respectful for the amount of time this person will invest in you. The payback will be your success and commitment to give back to someone else down the road. If we evaluate women on their skills and abilities and give them accurate feedback on what they do well and what they need to improve on, we will be ahead of the game.

4. Set the culture! Match your skills to the culture of your company. You will find success when you don’t have to change who you are to fit the corporate culture. The way you represent yourself defines your company’s culture to the internal and external guests. Leverage your strengths and what sets you apart from others. You can’t be your best in pretending to be something your not. A lot of women have difficulty believing in themselves; be proud of who you are and where you are. Your company will be grateful to have you – you are the culture.

5. Develop your leadership style. Every organization differs on the specific skill sets needed for different positions or success in the organization. Understand this; leadership is always one of the required skills or competencies needed. Getting others around you to realize their full potential is one sure way to measure your leadership capabilities. Leadership skills can be acquired by everyone given the right tools, resources and desire. If you aren’t sure how your leadership is perceived by others – ask. I recommend 360° reviews and a personal development plan. Achievement of goals is an important way to stay motivated and build long term commitment to your organization.

Andrea Davenport is the Director of Recruiting for Ninety Nine Restaurants. She has worked with Ninety Nine Restaurants for the past eight years and has prior experience in Human Resources with Applebee’s International. Ms. Davenport holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Penn State University.

Great Female Leaders – Davenport – 1-15-08