Entering the hospitality field offers great satisfaction if you’re good at what you do. But it’s also known to be tough. Want to succeed in hospitality? Recognising and improving your skills is key to succeed.
Having the right skills not only helps you prevent emotional and physical exhaustion, but also enables your business to achieve a higher standard than anywhere else, meaning people come to you over the competition. Guests may come for the food, but they’ll stay for the good customer service.
Top skills for the hospitality industry
Perfecting your hospitality skills is a journey that requires consistent effort – don’t expect change to happen overnight. But pinpointing areas for improvement will lay the groundwork and motivate you to apply daily. Whether you’re front-of-house, back-of-house, or managing both, you’ll grow and find success through hands-on experience and continuous learning.
With that in mind, here’s our 6 essential skills you should strive to cultivate and develop throughout career:
- Communication
Communicating clearly and professionally through your speech, writing, and body language lies at the heart of exceptional customer service in hospitality. In a customer-facing and team-oriented role, everything you say and do must communicate a positive, constructive message that enhances the customer’s experience and enables your team to work together seamlessly.
The most important part of communicating is listening. Therefore, when talking to guests, you should adopt a genuine warmth and interest in them. By asking questions and attentively listening, you create authentic, spontaneous conversations that gives guests the impression you really care about them. This in turn lets them know that you’re open to discussing and fulfilling their needs.
Similarly, within the team, active listening makes or breaks whether work flows smoothly, and you’re all coordinated. Regularly talk to your colleagues fosters clarity on tasks and mutual support. Recognise that each member contributes to collective success, thus fostering an environment of openness, honesty, respect and appreciation is really in everyone’s best interest.
2. Teamwork
In hospitality, no matter your role, you’ll always only ever be one cog in a much larger machine. Whether you’re in a hotel department, in a busy kitchen or part of the bar staff, teamwork is crucial, especially when things get busy.
Given the high turnover rate within the industry, this can be challenging. After all, you’ll have to adapt to new faces constantly and build relationships from scratch all over again. But if everyone isn’t working together smoothly, everything can go wrong, which isn’t good for customers, your employer and ultimately, you.
3. Attention to detail
Regardless of your position, attention to detail involves optimising your time to ensure everything is at its best. It means utilising spare moments for small maintenance tasks around the workplace.
This could involve quickly scanning the room to see if anything is out of place or missing. It may involve relocating dishes or equipment for cleaning and tidying up. Adopt a critical eye for everything, as customers are likely to notice even the smallest imperfections, from crumbs under the table, smudged glasses, missing utensils, they have high expectations for their dining experience. Whether you’re preparing or serving their meal, pay attention to its presentation.
Maintaining a keen eye to detail will keep service running smoothly and customers pleased with the environment. Soon enough, it becomes second nature to keep yourself busy and always have a task at hand.
4. Problem solving
This is a skill that is highly valued in any industry; but in hospitality, the ability to think quickly on your feet and resolve problems quickly can save yourself a lot of potential hassle.
For instance, if a guest complains about their room, offering them complimentary drinks at the bar while waiting an available room not only appeases the customer but also leaves a favourable impression of the hotel. Alternatively, if a customer has very specific dietary requirements, you could consult with the chef on their behalf to offer a tailored alternative solution.
Remember, the most effective way to keep customers happy is to by offering solutions to their concerns (within reasonable bounds). So, if you possess a proactive nature and are eager to address issues promptly, hospitality could be an ideal fit for you.
5. Time management
Effective time management is extremely important in any hospitality role. Guests expect prompt service at designated time, and lateness can disrupt your coworkers’ schedules, compromising the quality of service they can offer.
Make an extra effort to be early to your obligations, so that even if something comes up, you will still be on time. Keeping guests wait can cause frustration and dissatisfaction, so timely attendance enhances interactions for both you and your guests.
6. Industry awareness
Beyond the personal and professional skills listed above, it’s important to mention industry knowledge for hospitality professionals. While it may not consider a skill per se, it is certainly a fundamental requirement.
Understanding the dynamics of the industry will help you navigate where you want your career to go, whether you’re an employee, restaurant owner or hotel division manager. Familiarity with various hospitality brands and businesses informs strategic decisions and enhances your ability to succeed in the field.
To learn more about succeeding in the hospitality industry, study our SIT50422 Diploma of Hospitality Management (CRICOS Course Code: 111781G).
Click here to apply! 🌟