Inspired by the Next Big Idea Podcast episode, “You’re in the Hospitality Business (Whether You Know It or Not)” with Will Guidara.
Even though he works in the restaurant business, Will Guidara explains that anyone who deals with people is in the hospitality business. I’ve written before that while we don’t think of education as a hospitality business, we probably should. We deal with people every day. We serve others.
In education, we live with the belief that more is always the answer. More support. More curriculum. More interventions. More hours. More days. More time. And all of it leads to more success.
But, as Guidara says about the restaurant business, more is not more.
More sometimes makes things worse. More sometimes means overkill. More sometimes leads to overwhelmed teachers and students.
More is not more. But more thoughtful is.
It’s thinking about what a student truly needs. It’s taking a moment to consider how to respond to that parent before you hit send. It’s careful thought given to why something is taught instead of how it is taught. It’s not forgetting the basics. It’s thinking ahead and treating everyone as a VIP (Very Individual Person).
We don’t need any more more.
We need more intention. We need more thoughtfulness. We need more hospitality.
Stop trying to do more. Start being more thoughtful. It’s better for your students, and it’s better for you.
Rich
