We’ve all made “that” hire. Great résumé, great interview, great job stability, great appearance, great references and great personality. Hired!
The GM hired offers a solid year’s performance. Then, something happens. A couple of guests complain about the GM’s attitude. Financial auditors find a few “missed” invoices. Guest satisfaction scores take a slight dip. Several “issues” from the corporate payroll department about timeliness arise. There’s a misstep on the recent brand quality assurance exam.
The best hotel leaders see things others don’t
Here are five unique steps the boss could have taken during the final phase of the interviewing process to crack through the surface and discover the good, bad or ugly truths underneath the GM’s great résumé and interviewing performance.
1. Hire a scientist.
Put some science behind this traditionally “subjective” decision. There are some excellent companies out there that specialize in making sure of three things: right person, right job, right time. This could be an ego hit to many hiring managers who suggest they can do it on their own. That’s a whole other article. In this case, a personality and talent assessment test would have helped greatly.
2. Schedule to “invest” at least four hours
This GM will be running a multi-million dollar asset for you and the company. Spend a day with him. I use the word “invest” above because it is exactly that—an investment in time with your most crucial asset to the company’s profitability and stability. If you need more incentive, consider this: The wrong hire could mean your own job stability is in question and could knock your whole world out of balance.
3. Immerse yourself in the candidate’s leadership and hotel skills
Start the day at the hotel. This is a great way to see what kind of “eyes” the candidate has. Stand in the lobby and ask him to tell you what he sees. If he goes on for 25 minutes, you’ve got yourself a GM with a great attention to detail, and you’ve also got yourself a dirty lobby!
Another good task is to identify the hotel’s best housekeeper and have the candidate inspect one of those recently cleaned rooms. It’s not just the attention to detail you’re looking for; it’s the process of how he goes about it. Does he ask for an inspection sheet? Does he remove his jacket, roll up his sleeves? How does he present the findings? Timid? Judgmental? Positive? Confident?
Toolbox Ad Will Appear Here
4. See what others don’t
See past the savvy interviewing skills, the impressive appearance and seemingly great, positive attitude.
What’s the first thing great GMs do when the hotel is caught in a downpour of rain? They get wet. They walk outside and look at the roof, retaining walls, parking lot and gutters. At this time, the building and property is under stress, and that is when the real blemishes show up (leaks, cracks, etc.).
In the morning conversation, casually mention you like cheeseburgers. When it comes to lunchtime, have the candidate choose the restaurant. When you arrive, have him pick the table and then have him order for you. Is he uncomfortable? Probably, but look past that and see how he deals with being uncomfortable. He will act that way as a GM when in uncomfortable situations (i.e. presenting next year’s budgets to executives). Was he listening to you when you said you like cheeseburgers or did he take you out for seafood? Does he respect the server and look him in the eye? Ask him why he chose that restaurant. Is it because it is usually quiet and you would be able to talk? Then, give him your credit card and ask him to pay while you go make a phone call. If he does it without issue or mention, that’s how he will act as a GM when you give him tasks. If he bombards you with questions about how much to tip and what about your signature, that’s how he will act as a GM.
5. Case study review and response session
As a hiring manager there are countless “case studies” you can use to offer a challenge to the GM candidate.
See what he comes up with and make your own conclusions. The actual recommendation is not important. The process he used to get to the answer is everything. Good writing skills? Creative? Does he remember major aspects of the project such as seasonality or market segments? Are his findings clear and concise or fragmented and unfocused?
Finally, how the applicant acts in the interview process is how he will act when he is a GM, and his actions will be accentuated after about six months when he gets comfortable. Look for the signs of potential conflict, and also look for signs of greatness. Each will grow exponentially.
Don’t leave interviewing to good luck. Prepare, invest and see what other don’t.
Adam Zembruski is the Chief Hotel Operations Officer for Pharos Hospitality (www.pharoshospitality.com), a Charlotte, NC-based hotel investment platform explicitly designed to acquire, own and operate franchised upscale select service hotels. Adam oversees all operating entities at Pharos, including Property Assessments and Takeover, Sales and Marketing, Revenue Management, Human Resources and Culture Development, System Implementation, Financial Analysis, and Talent/Performance Tracking. Adam can be reached at 704-333-1818, ext. 12, or via email at azembruski@pharoshospitality.com
The opinions expressed in this column do not necessarily reflect the opinions of HotelNewsNow.com or its parent company, Smith Travel Research and its affiliated companies. Columnists published on this site are given the freedom to express views that may be controversial, but our goal is to provoke thought and constructive discussion within our reader community. Please feel free to comment or contact an editor with any questions or concerns.