in a team meeting or in a five minute water cooler conversation .
2 . Help them achieve their goals . Not every employee wants to climb up the corporate ladder . And they may not all be motivated by the financial success of the department . But they might be completely inspired and motivated by you helping them support their family , develop skills for their career ( which might be in a different company or industry ) or by giving them a schedule that allows them the freedom to pursue their personal passions and activities . If you are helping them to achieve their most important goals , they will help you achieve yours .
3 . Focus on strengths . Most managers spend far too much time trying to fix people ’ s weaknesses . As a compassionate leader , you can recognize the strengths on your team and help people do more of what they do best . People are happiest and perform at their best when they are using their strengths .
4 . Respect their personal time . In the age of technology , it is more difficult than ever to work in a 24 / 7 operation . Workers are forced to either use their off time to keep up with work or return to work with a sense of dread in their gut at the pile of unanswered emails and urgent projects that will be waiting for them . As a compassionate leader , you have to find new ways of working that allow people to enjoy their time off , work-free and guilt-free .
5 . Enhance their well-being . Is working for you good for their health ? We live in the age of “ wellness everywhere ,” and worker expectations are rising rapidly . They don ’ t want to work in an environment that is inherently risky , dangerous , or stressful . Unlike previous generations , workers of today are not willing to compromise their wellbeing for the sake of a job . Consider how you can make your workplace one that elevates wellbeing rather than suppressing it . Is your workplace safe ? Is it fun ? Do your colleagues have opportunities throughout the day to move their bodies or rest their minds ? Employees will happily work hard for you , if working for you helps them to be at their best .
6 . Say “ thank you .” Gratitude is one of the most underrated business strategies in the world . It costs virtually nothing , and yet has incredible power to keep your team
happy , motivated , engaged and inspired . Tell your people every day what you most appreciate about them . From my perspective , the spa industry will continue to be an appealing and meaningful career choice . We provide services that are desperately needed in the modern world , and we provide training , career growth and geographic mobility . We work in a business where we can see the direct impact of our work on every customer who comes through our doors . But employee expectations are changing rapidly , and the leader of tomorrow will need new skills to attract and retain the best talent . The spa industry , by virtue of our work , may even be at an advantage . Our business attracts people who are emotionally intelligent , focused on wellbeing , and sensitive to the needs of others . It is up to us , the compassionate leaders , to rebuild our industry in a way that is better for all our colleagues and to usher in the next era of spa and wellness . ■
JEREMY McCARTHY is the Group Director of Spa & Wellness for Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group , and a renowned and respected trailblazer of innovative concepts in spa and wellness . In his role , Mr . McCarthy is responsible for leading Mandarin Oriental Group ’ s acclaimed luxury spa division and guest and colleague wellness programs .
22 PULSE ■ FEBRUARY / MARCH 2022