Building off of last week’s blog, I’ve recently heard that the last hotel I worked in will be closing soon.  The Inn At Harvard, an institution in Harvard Square for the past 22 years, will be repurposed as living quarters for Harvard University students.

 

My experience at this hotel offered me my first exposure to both an authentic leader and to collaborative leadership.  The General Manager of the property expected each member of his executive team to contribute fully to the success of the hotel.  He modeled for us that the only way to do this was to take a broad view, rather than focusing on the best interests of our particular domain.  He welcomed our suggestions, ideas, and pushback.  He encouraged us to work through our differences through honest and constructive dialogue.  And he challenged us to live up to the potential that he saw in each of us.

 

Over the years I’ve lost track of some of the members of that team, but those that I have remained in contact with have all moved into significant leadership positions.  Each of us fondly recall the gentle guidance and tough love with which he mentored us, as we now mentor others.

 

Next week I will have the unique experience of being a guest at the hotel.  It is bittersweet to think that I was one of the employees early in the hotels history, and will now be one of its final guests.  In chatting with the GM the other day, we both remarked that, while it is sad that The Inn is closing, the memories we have are really about the amazing people and wonderful relationships that began there.

 

I hope that I will have an opportunity to see many of these friends while I am there, to thank them for our shared experience, and to wish them every happiness in their next chapter.