New Alan Cutler book offers leadership advice to the hospitality industry

The new book urges readers to "raise their game and deliver strong and inspirational leadership" to steer their workforce through ongoing changes and new opportunities. Cutler's book, which has received support from the sector skills council, People 1st, found that the fortunes of businesses with poor leadership and practices should be saved from the brink by leaders with clear vision, commitment and passion to the development of their staff. In the book, Cutler identifies "pockets" of excellent practice and exceptional leaders who had overcome formidable challenges across the whole sector - from food and service management to hotels and restaurants. The author said: "It was motivating to be in the presence of such passionately driven people. "All are great leaders and a credit to their organisations and their industry. In my interviews, I sought to explore their approach to, and experience of leadership in the context of their own roles and responsibilities, identify what special challenges they had faced and overcome and what motivated them as leaders. "I also sought to obtain their advice to those entering the hospitality industry as a leader with similar responsibilities as theirs." Among the tips from exceptional leaders include: "Think big and act small. Create a growing business that people can grow within and never lose sight of the little things that matter." Another line of advice from Cutler is to "Expect your managers to be 'premier league players' who can stand on their own feet and make their own decisions." Cutler also suggests maintaining a strong commitment to thinking like staff and customers and also understanding when to act as part of a team and when to act as an individual. During his quest to identify exceptional leadership and practice, Cutler highly commended a long list of leaders including James Horler, executive chairman of Ego Restaurants, John Stauss, regional vice-president, Four Seasons Hotel and Elliot Jardine, franchisee, McDonald's Restaurants.