Leadership is Hospitality

Great leadership requires great hospitality.

This week’s Two-Minute Tip was inspired by our Thanksgiving table, which reminded me of this simple truth: Inviting someone to your table is one thing. Helping them feel known, seen, and valued is another.

The same goes for the workplace. Leaders, you are hosts, whether you realize it or not. How you welcome people, include them, and help them settle in can completely shape your team’s culture.

If you want your team (and guests to your team) to feel comfortable, connected, and cared for, this quick tip is for you.

Leaders, let’s level up the hospitality.

• Read the video transcript

  Today's quick reminder is that great leadership requires great hospitality.

  Just recently, we celebrated Thanksgiving, and this year we were at my parents' house and they invited somebody to join us who's not part of our family. And honestly, this is one of my favorite things about my parents. I can remember over the years them so often inviting somebody to join us for Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter, somebody who's not part of our family and just welcoming them into our home. What a gift, right?

  Well, this Thanksgiving with the individual who joined us, it was so fun to watch, one by one, everybody in our family take time to make him feel at ease, to ask him questions, to just really be attentive to how he was feeling in the space.

  And it just reminded me that this is so needed in the workplace. And leaders, it is your responsibility to be great hosts.

  So I'm curious, how are you practicing hospitality when you have either team members or non-team members in your space? Are you making them feel at ease? Do they feel known, seen, and valued?

  If not, you have an opportunity to step up your hospitality game. To be a great host and make both your team members and others who are stepping into your team's space, make them feel at ease, make them feel comfortable, make them feel known, seen, and valued.

  Leaders, be a great host.