Me, the manager, ask for advice?

I’m sitting in my office wondering… how much money is wasted every single day because managers don’t ask for advice before making decisions they’re not fully informed about. Across hotels all over the world, uninformed decisions happen every minute. Imagine the millions lost daily. Now imagine the ROI if managers simply paused… and asked. So why don’t they? One word: shame. The fear of looking weak. The fear of not knowing. But here’s the truth: great managers don’t know everything. They gather facts. They seek insight. Because the best answers aren’t always in spreadsheets, books, or Google. Look around your hotel. Your frontline team-room attendants, dishwashers, front desk, back-of-house-are walking goldmines of practical knowledge. They live the operation every day.

Early in my career, helping open The King Solomon’s Palace, I learned a powerful lesson: the answers were already around me. I just had to ask. Your frontline staff impacts guests more than you ever will. When you ask their opinion, you build confidence, loyalty, and better solutions. So next time you face a problem-go to the source. Ask. Listen. Throw shame out the window. Because asking for advice doesn’t make you weak. It makes you a leader.