Fresh out of college \u2014 knowing lots \u2014 but also true, not knowing what I didn\u2019t know \u2014 I had the distinct privilege of establishing my HR career in the hospitality industry in southeast Florida. It was an excellent, stretching, life-changing experience, learning to do life with truly diverse people groups. I learned to manage, to motivate, to live with and learn from. That\u2019s with people of varied ethnicity, education, income, intelligence, sexuality, nationality, you-name-it. No doubt the hotel is a diverse place. It was here that I only began to learn what hospitality really was.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Years later now I continue to gain insight. And I\u2019m thinking that hospitality might be the one thing that would make all things better. Let\u2019s face it\u2026 take even a tiny glance at those right track\/wrong track polls; it doesn\u2019t take anywhere near a rocket scientist to discern that the clear majority of us wish for society\/culture\/etc. to be far better.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What if hospitality held the key\u2026 if it made all better\u2026 and if we really knew what it was\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n When defining hospitality, we speak of something a little bit other than the quickest meaning we conjure up, that being the business of providing food, drink, and accommodations for one\u2019s paying clientele. The included idea of provision resonates, though. And true, we did that quite well in our numerous, luxury-oriented hotel properties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We also speak of something a little bit other than the idea of \u201cthe friendly and generous reception and entertainment of guests, visitors, or strangers.\u201d Granted, the word \u201cfriendly\u201d seems relevant. \u201cGenerous,\u201d too. And while we\u2019re at it, let\u2019s not miss the noteworthy inclusion of strangers. Strangers are people we don\u2019t really know\u2026 even if we think we do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So let\u2019s put all of the above together\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hospitality is the consistent kindness toward friends and strangers alike. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Let me rephrase: hospitality means treating all people \u2014 known or unknown \u2014 with generous kindness and warmth.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n But there\u2019s a problem. We each oft justify omitting singular words and then fool ourselves into thinking we\u2019re still somehow hospitable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Maybe we omit \u201cgenerous.\u201d Maybe it\u2019s the \u201ckindness\u201d or \u201cwarmth.\u201d Maybe \u201cunknown\u201d \u2014 after all, if we don\u2019t really know them. Or maybe, too, \u201cconsistent\u201d\u2026 maybe even \u201call.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2026 consistent treatment\u2026 to <\/em>all <\/em><\/strong>people\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n I get it. Some people are harder for us to be kind to than others. And sometimes we really just don\u2019t understand how another thinks. But that makes sense; the more we get close to people, the more we\u2019ll see things \u2014 behaviors and beliefs \u2014 that just don\u2019t makes sense to us. Our story is different. Our experience is different.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But not making sense is not license for forgoing hospitality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To be consistent, to be consistently kind, to all, what if we changed the way we responded when we don\u2019t understand the story and experience that\u2019s different?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Instead of responding to what we don\u2019t understand with all those unhealthy, voluntary reactions \u2014 ie. anger, judgment, and offense \u2014 what if we first learned to pause? To be still? To buy us a bit of time to be who and what\u2019s wisest?<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cTime for what?\u201d one logically asks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Time to be curious.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Follow me here for a brief moment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I heard a wise man speak on hospitality \u2014 the idea being bigger than that food and drink and frolicking business sector. He talked about how hospitality diffuses hostility. And one of the ways that happens so simply yet profoundly, powerfully and effectively, occurs when we\u2019re confronted with a behavior or belief that we don\u2019t understand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Instead of reacting, be curious. Be curious \u2014 not furious. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Ask about what we don\u2019t understand. Ask some more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Yes, let\u2019s be better. Let\u2019s be a truly hospitable people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Respectfully\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n AR<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Fresh out of college \u2014 knowing lots \u2014 but also true, not knowing what I didn\u2019t know \u2014 I had the distinct privilege of establishing my HR career in the hospitality industry in southeast Florida. It was an excellent, stretching, life-changing experience, learning to do life with truly diverse people groups. I learned to manage, … <\/p>\n