Vol 11 Issue 2, September 2011 - School of Hotel & Tourism ...

Volume 6. Issue 2. Sep 2011Research HorizonsYet there was also a suggestion from some leaders thatalthough leadership could be learned to an extent, it wasinnate in those individuals who led throughout theircareers.Characteristics of Effective LeadershipThe researchers identify eight leadership characteristicsmentioned in the interviews: business knowledge,determination, open-mindedness, team support, the abilityto admit mistakes, communication skills and a sense ofhumour. Business knowledge covered both being able toprovide information to subordinates on a range of areas anda good understanding of the wider business environment.Determination was considered a prerequisite for leadershipand open-mindedness a necessity. One intervieweecommented that “leaders need to be open-minded becauseyou have to accept all the views”, which in turn helps tobuild crucial support amongst subordinates.The interviewees considered the ability to admit mistakesas an essential leadership characteristic, coupled with thewillingness to stand up for subordinates who may havemade their own mistakes. This and the other characteristicsclearly necessitated excellent communication skills, and theinterviewees stressed that leaders needed to have a senseof humour to counterbalance the serious elements of theirroles.basis. The researchers suggest that this might due to theprevalence of Western education amongst the intervieweesand Hong Kong’s relatively recent return to Chinese rule.Nevertheless, a specific non-cultural conclusion can bedrawn from the study. Although personality traits maycome into play, “ultimately it is knowledge and experienceof the tourism industry that enables people to becomeeffective leaders”.Points to Note■ Little is known about how tourism industryleaders develop their skills.■ Hong Kong leaders learn from personalexperience, reading and training, and by engagingwith others.■ Aspiring leaders must be passionate aboutworking in the industry.■ Knowledge and experience are the two crucialelements of becoming an effective tourism leader.Weber, Karin and Ladkin, Adele (2010). Developingeffective tourism leadership. Journal of China TourismResearch, Vol. 6, pp. 410-426.Advice for Aspiring LeadersWhen asked to give advice to aspiring leaders, theinterviewees indicated that they needed a strong passionand enthusiasm for the industry. At its core, note theresearchers, this determines whether there is a good fitbetween the individual and the industry.The interviewees also mentioned the importance of gainingexperience in as many aspects of a business as possible,including work experience before entering the industryfull time. This would require much effort and hard work.As the researchers put it, “the dominant advice for thoseaspiring to become leaders in the tourism industry is tomake an honest assessment of the personal desire to workin a demanding and challenging people/service-orientedindustry”.Knowledge and Experience the KeyAn important point to note about the outlooks expressed inthe interviews is that none of them had a particularly Asian2School of Hotel and Tourism Management