River Guide Leadership - Chris Green - Defining Hospitality #003

What makes a strong leader?

According to Chris Green, President & CEO of Chesapeake Hospitality, a good leader is like a river guide - they’ve been through the rapids before, but know how to get the best out of their team without jumping in and paddling for them. Listen in as Chris joins host Dan Ryan to discuss the different ways leadership can be nurtured and cultivated while navigating the rushing waters of the hospitality industry.

Check out some takeaways from this episode below:

• Leadership requires not only being able to trust your people, but to give them the tools they need to be leaders themselves.
• Tough decisions can be painful, but they can be the right choice in the end. Navigating tough times while putting people first involves creating plans that are customized for individuals and groups. 
• Hospitality is something you should practice everyday. It’s about having a genuine concern for a positive outcome for others. Chris draws on his family & southern upbringing when thinking about how to go the extra mile for someone in your care. 
• Take the time to get to know the individual. “People are not to be blueprinted, everybody’s different.” - Chris
• The number one trait in future leaders is curiosity. People who ask questions show engagement with the task at hand.
• A strong-willed leader can overcome difficult challenges, but they can also lead a team in the wrong direction at times. 
• Advice to Chris’ younger self: Learn from your leaders, for good or for bad. Don’t be too hard on yourself, but learn from your mistakes. 

Quote of the Show:

13:15 -”To me it's just genuine care and concern for a positive outcome for others. And that, that is hospitality. And that's, what's cool about that is it's our, my living and it's also my life. And what I mean by that is, just because I make money doing it in the hotel business, hospitality is something that you should practice every day, whether it's with your neighbor or with the person that's the grocery store or whatever, the person who's frustrating you at a grocery store, you know, it's, it's how we treat our fellow humans.”

Links:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wchrisgreen/
• Company website: https://www.chesapeakehospitality.com/

Shout Outs: 

49:50 - Warren Rustand, “The Leader Within Us” 

Ways to Tune In: 

• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0A2XOJvb6mGqEPYJ5bilPX
• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/defining-hospitality-podcast/id1573596386
• Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZGVmaW5pbmdob3NwaXRhbGl0eS5saXZlL2ZlZWQueG1s
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrpt8C461L_9n_6vezzZtkQ