Leadership and Adaptability in Hospitality

I have read an article by Seth Godin that has made an impact on me and prompted some reflection.

In the article, he mentions a conversation Seth had with someone who works for a large company. This person is frustrated because they are rapidly fading away.

Change happens quickly, and new ideas, new entrepreneurs and new executives with fresh ideas emerge.

Millions of companies focus on maintaining the status quo rather than making swift changes to their organisation. Meanwhile, new concepts that may not even have a clear competitive advantage race ahead like crazy.

The people on the blue curve, the last to emerge, would undoubtedly like to have the assets and reputation that those on the green curve already possess. Since they do not have them... they improvise. They are market-oriented and give customers exactly what they want. They rely on technology and innovation, among other things because they have nothing else.

Meanwhile, the people on the green curve feel disoriented. They believe the company is against them and that circumstances are not in their favour.

In the vast majority of cases, the people on the blue curve come out ahead—that is, those who play by new rules. But sometimes, to give the dinosaurs a little hope, someone (usually the CEO) stands up and says, “Follow me,” and they do.

He is not wrong, and the article is highly significant. A sector such as ours, where the green curve is crowded with players, persistently complains about the presence of players on the blue curve.