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As the B&B owner and operator, your business is more than just a way to earn income — it’s your life. You eat, breathe and sleep your B&B, but you can’t be everywhere at once. This is why you rely on your staff to be the face of your brand. Knowing that your staff will have a direct impact on the guest experience, you need to make staff motivation a top priority.
So, here’s what really motivates B&B staff members:
Being Heard
People appreciate having someone to listen to them, and that’s particularly true among staff members at small hotels and B&Bs. Your staff spends a significant amount of time interacting with the people who stay at your property, and they often have valuable input to share with you. When you provide them with opportunities to speak up, and you implement changes based on their feedback, you will find your staff are far more motivated to do their jobs to the best of their abilities.
Being Recognized
Naturally, everyone wants to be recognized for their efforts. If the front desk manager at your bed and breakfast goes above and beyond for a guest, take a moment to thank them for it and let that staff member know you noticed. If your kitchen staff pulls together to create an allergy-friendly menu for a last-minute booking, be sure to praise them for this extra effort.
It doesn’t take much to recognize your staff members on a daily basis, yet it will make a big difference in how motivated your staff is to complete their tasks each and every day.
Being Rewarded
Of course, rewarding your staff members for their efforts is going to continue to motivate them to do well. The best way to do this is to establish small, realistic goals for each of your staff members. Make sure that they are aware of what their goals are, and provide them with any resources necessary to accomplish their individual goals. When they reach those goals, reward them with a small bonus or an extra day off from work.
As you continue to set goals and reward your staff, you will find that the entire team will work together to improve your B&B.
Being Offered Opportunities to Improve
Your employees are investing a lot of their own time and energy into improving your business, so it’s important that you make the same investment in them. Show your staff that you value them by offering training opportunities throughout the year. Training opportunities may include webinars that introduce new technology, conferences that provide skills-based training, or hands-on instruction with an industry leader who can help them grow both personally and professionally.
Staff members who feel appreciated and who are motivated to do their jobs well will in turn reward you with their loyalty. Through these motivational efforts, you will be able to retain the top staff members in the industry and your guests will benefit as a result.
