Believe it or not, 2010 will soon be drawing to a close. As the year began, we all started out with the greatest intentions. So why is it that so many of us are still off track and falling in line with the old ways or living with realities that don’t serve us? 

Where does your mind have to be at to make your 2010 dreams a reality and achieve significant results?  It is never too late  – just think: Fanatical Commitment. 

First up: Get fanatical about your people.
1. Are they performing? If not, coach them and/or make a change.
2. Do you trust them? If not, make a change. Trust is an instinct and without it there are always challenges.
3. Are they focused? Ensure they are disciplined and organized.
4. Are they engaged? Inspire them. Energize them. Give them hope. 

Next: Have a plan and make a fanatical commitment to executing your plan Over the years as a strategist and leader I have watched many good plans, ideas and commitments developed by talented people of every level start out with an outstanding plan and never get far. Why is this?

There are lots of explanations ranging from things change, corporate sent us in a new direction, we didn’t anticipate this or that and though all may be true in the end, the results are frequently mediocre. I can assure you no one starts off the year hoping for mediocre performance and yet many end there.So start thinking differently in order to end 2010 with all that you believed it could be when it started. Here are a few tips:

 1. Stay focused on the plan, and if you don’t have one, get a real one – fast.

2. Establish a plan review and update process with your team. What are the priorities against the plan and where are you against them. Ensure reports are by individual and/or department heads and that they are comprehensive and well organized. Determine a schedule so each department/individual has the floor once a month and shares where they are against their plan in terms of results, productivity and activity in the future.

3. Ensure that MRIs – Measurement Results Indicators – are in place and that your controller or another designated person is putting systems in place so you can review your progress daily. Yes, daily. Daily is fanatical commitment. Post what is appropriate.

4. Immediately coach individuals who are not meeting their goals.

5. Keep your conversations and communication on the plan. Avoid new initiatives that are knee jerk in nature. Understand that when you change the plan you have to modify other expectations and action plans. Talk to your leaders about where they are against the plan, what tactics are going well, and what tactics are missing the mark. Know that where you focus they will focus.

6. Change up your meetings and ensure they include:

a. Real acknowledgement of performers

b. An agenda that focuses on the 4 questions to success and gets your team thinking, talking and focusing:

1. How is our Community/Team feeling and working together? Remember happy employees make happy guests. Happy guests spend.
2. What are our guests saying and what are we doing to keep them happy and returning? Remember a highly satisfied guest is 6 times more likely to return. Customer service is your best guest retention strategy and most cost effective market share strategy.
3. What new business did we get last week? (All segments). Remember every department can contribute. Track new guests, new contracts, new site tours. Think about new potential customers by looking at who you have and how you can tap into more of them.
4. What is the plan for the next week in terms of areas of improvement by department/discipline and new business development?

Remember, that the best coaching is through asking questions regarding the individual’s focus against their deliverables. If they are not focused on what they will be doing in the next 10 days you can rest assure you have problems in your future.

c. What priorities do we need to consider over the next 6 months?  

Now is the time to set the tempo and get your Community/Team fanatically committed to the activity, key focus areas and actions that will deliver you the results you want.   

Feel the beat…  

Renie Cavallari is CEO and Chief Inspirational Officer for Aspire, an international training and marketing consulting company positioning organizations to make more money through:  

• Hospitality Training. Coaching Skills. Cultural Alignment. Team Building.
• Re-energizing Organizations. Strategic Planning. Sales & Marketing Consulting. Positioning. Branding.
• Customer Service Culture. Customer Service Training.
• Awakening the Passion within People & Organizations. Leadership Training.

If you would like to receive free leadership tips go to:  www.tipsonleadership.com  

Discover new ways to engage and revitalize your team at The Coach Approach at Aspire in Phoenix, AZ November 2, 2010. Space is limited. Please call Keith Clark at 602-392-0700 to register or visit our website, www.aspiremarketing.com to enroll in this dynamic one day program. 

Renie writes regularly for Hotel Motel Management magazine, in which this article first appeared (January, 2010). For more insider tips on hospitality marketing, go to:  http://www.hotelworldnetwork.com/cavallari

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