For me, positive disruption is defined by healthy observation, questioning, breaking the norms and shaking things up for the benefit of something - a positive force that can lead to innovation, growth, and positive change.

However, disruption is not always universally good, and whether it’s positive or not, depends on various factors, including the industry and the context in which it occurs.

As ‘The Hospitality Hero’, I strongly believe that disruption in the hospitality industry is needed, but it needs to be done for positive outcomes so that it brings about much-needed changes, innovation, and improvement. For example, we need to disrupt by fostering a culture of continuous improvement, addressing staff issues and shortages and bridging generational gaps…

Disruption can be negative when it leads to instability, alienates people, or fails to address essential industry challenges. For example, sudden and poorly executed changes to established service models or drastic cost-cutting measures that compromise the quality of guest experiences can be detrimental.

Many industries are in need of a shake-up, some more drastically than others. And many of us leaders, entrepreneurs and startups, launched our businesses with a passion-led purpose and a desire to make a difference and/or change.

So, here are 5 ideas one needs to shake up their industry?

Wake up!

What do people need to wake up to? What is the reality? What are you committed to? What are you passionate about? Can you communicate this clearly?

Have your finger on the pulse

You need to know what is trending and what is being talked about. Ensure you have Daily Online Information Drops - for me personally, what’s taken me from zero to hero are my daily information drops about the industry. These are absolute gold dust for you, understanding and educating yourself on what’s going on in industry day in, day out. These usually just give a quick flavour, but vitally it gives you knowledge to network. From when you get to your desk, these give you a great picture of what’s going on in industry. Who are the movers and shakers? What are the current challenges? What are the current opportunities that you can tap into? What’s hot and what’s not?

Use your six senses

Leaders need to take an active role in telling the story, setting the scene and leading by example — mentoring, coaching and supporting teams, especially in instances where shake ups, improvements and change is needed. As entrepreneurs, startups, and leaders, we always need to be engaging all our six senses; Touch, Taste, Smell, Sight, Hearing and the often-overlooked sixth - ‘Common Sense’.

Build a community

You need to find like-minded people who are with you on your mission. I am looking to create a global community of Hospitality Heroes — professionals who are ready and eager to fight for the industry to be its very best. For me, one of the best tactics I’ve done in my career is, I’ve got involved in the local associations and community projects. What are the local Associations, Chamber of Commerce, Business Groups, what are the wider Regional Associations… potentially… Where you should be seen? Where do you stand in your local community and where are your connections with local council and wider stakeholders? These will be crucial to how you grow and how you’re perceived as a business owner in your neck of the woods. If there isn’t any local groups or networks… Why not look to start one yourself? When I couldn’t find anything, I started my own hospitality association. And that was as simple as door knocking on my competitors and my neighbours and saying, We’ve got some challenges in our city — shall we face them together? It’s been priceless. It puts you on the map. It really does set you up as a leader and shows that you want to engage and collaborate with others for the better good of the region, the business and those businesses around you.

Show up online

Join online networks and forums. This is a key opportunity to show you as an individual leader, separate from your business. Follow and support as many in Industry as you can, join some of the groups and be active. Prove your Industry contribution, let people know you’re out and about, talk about your successes and celebration of all things Hospitality. Ask questions, ask for support…something that has been absolutely crucial for me is LinkedIn specifically. You can get yourself involved with so many hospitality groups and connect. And the great thing about them is they are global. That really gives you a full global picture.

So, how are you going to shake things up?

For me, my next move is to launch my International Masterclass - the answer to hospitality success and savvy-ness! Empowering people globally to go from manager to leader and become a future-proof savvy and smart ‘Hospitality Hero!’ You may ask, why HERO? Well, I feel the industry needs saving. So, I’m popping on my invisible cape and taking on the role as a champion for the industry. I'm dedicated to improving hospitality service and culture both in the UK and Internationally. I do want to be a disruptor and a force for good — to change the track of something that is heading in the wrong direction.