Why a Growth Mindset and Personal Development Plan Matter in Hospitality
There’s a bit of a buzz in the air lately. Whether it’s the promise of sunshine drawing people back out for brunches, long lunches, and hotel stays, or simply a long-overdue upswing after a few rough years, we’re seeing that hospitality businesses are starting to see a lift in sales.
This is great news after weathering so many storms, such as COVID, skyrocketing utility bills, and eye-watering food prices.
Within those hospitality businesses there are signs that a growth mindset exists, and this is a contributing factor to their survival.
What is a Growth Mindset?
Coined by psychologist Carol Dweck, a growth mindset is the belief that your abilities and intelligence can be developed. It’s not about being the finished article, it’s about putting one foot in front of the other, learning as you go, and building resilience along the way.
People with a growth mindset:
- See challenges as opportunities
- Learn from criticism
- Step out of their comfort zone regularly
- Believe that talent can be nurtured, not just born
As Dweck puts it:
“In a growth mindset, challenges are exciting rather than threatening. So rather than thinking, ‘Oh, I’m going to reveal my weaknesses,’ you say, ‘Wow, here’s a chance to grow’.”
It’s inspiring stuff and it’s not just for individual team members. Thought leaders like Simon Sinek and Steven Bartlett promote the idea of creating dynamic, adaptable teams who are not afraid to try, fail, learn and improve.
The Fixed Mindset Trap
Let’s be honest, we’ve all been there. Faced with criticism? Defensive. Comparing ourselves to a competitor? Deflated. Hit a wall with a new skill? Maybe I’m just not cut out for this.
That’s the fixed mindset talking, the belief that talent is static, and failure is a sign to give up.
Here are some differences between a fixed mindset and a growth mindset:
And while it might feel easier to stay in that fixed mindset (especially when you’re exhausted after a busy service or short on staff), it’s not where long-term success lives.
Developing Yourself (and Your Team) with a Personal Development Plan (PDP)
Because a growth mindset is so linked to success, it’s essential for your leadership and management teams to be able to embrace a growth mindset as part of their personal development.
So how do you start shifting towards a growth mindset in a practical way?
Enter the Personal Development Plan or PDP for short.
A PDP helps you set clear, achievable goals and track your progress step-by-step. It’s about taking that big, daunting ambition, such as improving staff retention or building your own leadership skills, and breaking it down into manageable, motivating actions.
A good PDP will:
- Help you reflect on what’s gone well and what hasn’t (check out Gibbs’ Reflective Learning Model)
- Keep you accountable
- Build confidence through small wins
- Adapt as you learn
Importantly, your PDP is personal. It can be used to develop your skills at work and outside of it, from improving wellbeing, to strengthening relationships, or even figuring out your bigger “why”.
In a work context, you can share it with a manager for guidance or keep it for yourself. Either way, it’s a powerful tool to keep you moving forward, especially when you use SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) to make your next steps crystal clear.
Why This Matters More Than Ever in Hospitality
Let’s face it, recruitment in hospitality is a challenge. The talent pool isn’t exactly overflowing, and great team members are in demand.
Creating an environment where people feel challenged (in a good way), supported, and able to grow isn’t just “nice to have”, it’s your best shot at keeping the people you’ve already got. And when your team see you investing in your own growth too? That sends a powerful message.
Yes, adopting a growth mindset takes work. We all get tripped up by comparison, criticism, or fear of getting it wrong. But the more we practise, the more natural it becomes, and the more likely we are to build businesses that bend, flex, and thrive, no matter what’s thrown at us next.
So go on, write it down, make a plan, and take the first step. Because growth might not happen overnight, but it does happen. And that’s what makes it worth the effort.
Need help introducing the Growth Mindset to your management team or creating a Personal Development Plan for yourself or your team? Please get in touch, because this is what we love to do and how we help our clients develop and grow.