Leadership in my Field

Addison Rush

LEAD 444- Leadership Minor Capstone

Hannah Scott

February 15, 2021

 After graduation, I plan to work in a country club in the banquets department. I will take

what I have learned in my leadership minor to help me make decisions, be a resourceful

employee, and put to use the skills I acquired from the courses I have taken. Throughout the

leadership courses, I have developed a “leadership language” which will allow me to stand out as

a candidate in the hospitality field. Using the term “leadership language,” I am referring to how

one should communicate as a leader. People should express their visions and ideas through their

words and communication, which is where “leadership language” comes into play. 

The leadership model that is most applicable to my future career is the autocratic style.

The autocratic style can be viewed as someone having control over decisions with little input

from others. While this style does have its drawbacks, it also has its benefits. One of the

advantages is being able to make a quick decision in a stress-filled situation. As Dr. Mukhles Al-

Ababneh states in his article, Leadership Style of Managers in Five-Star Hotels and Its

Relationship with Employee’s Job Satisfaction, the most common leadership style is the

autocratic style because of unpredictable hospitality industry demands. 

The three pillars of autocratic leadership include discipline, preparation, and victory. As

someone who wants to work specifically in events it is important to be able to make those quick

decisions when in a stressful or time limited period, as well as have discipline and the ability to

be prepared for any surprise. Two well-known public figures that hold this leadership style are

Bill Gates and Martha Stewart, while control is a very prominent characteristic that most

individuals with this leadership type share, the ability to have structure is another crucial

attribute.

A prestigious member of the hospitality and tourism field is Bruce Faber. He is the EHS

Recruiting Company (Enhancing Careers and Growing Companies since 1971) Hospitality
owner for the Chicago Market, as an executive recruiter for the Hospitality industry. Faber has

had various hospitality industry experiences, specifically in restaurants, and has had his fair share

of successes and failures. In an article by Voyage Chicago, Faber stated an insightful thought,

“the lessons I learned from failure far outweigh what I learned with success” (Faber). From

stepping into the door of hospitality at an early age, Faber discovered hard work and attention to

detail. He did not start at the top of the chain; he started at the bottom as a busboy and made his

way to opening businesses with people he considered mentors. 

As Bruce mentioned in the article, having a mentor or mentors helps you succeed and

achieve the goals and dreams you set your mind to. Having those mentors helps guide you in the

direction you want to go in. He says, “surround yourself with people who are better than you,

and everyone will succeed (Faber).” That is a tactic that he has taken on, and it shows in the

amount of success his business has had. 

Between all of his experiences, the mentorships he has gained, and the way he supports

his employees, it is safe to say that Bruce Faber’s leadership style is authoritative. Although this

is not the leadership style I identify with, this stye of leadership is just as crucial. The

authoritative leadership style is known as a visionary and has a follow-me approach. Faber

showed his visionary tactics with all the restaurants he helped open and positions he held.

Another part of the authoritative style is energizing and engaging followers along the way. Faber

explained how he has built relationships with his employees and colleagues throughout the years

and has kept the relationships strong over time while also stating his praise for those he works

alongside. 

My understanding of leadership will make me a competitive applicant because

understanding what leadership is and the different types of leadership models and theories gives
me an advantage of knowing the whys of how I lead. Having that knowledge and experience

gives you an advantage because, in today’s society, leadership is something that stands out to

employers. With every course taken in this minor the coursework relies heavily on group

collaboration. I add this observation because the minor has helped prepare all of the students for

collaborations and effective communication when in the work field. Throughout this minor the

collaboration goes well beyond simple group projects, as a team we have planned an executed

campus wide events, completed service projects, and been introduced to new backgrounds and

perspectives. While completing this minor, I am not only being educated on leadership, and I am

developing the ability to do it. 

As mentioned previously, my leadership style is the autocratic style. With the different

leadership experiences, I have held on campus throughout the past three years I have had the

opportunity to plan and execute events for different purposes. By having those opportunities, it

has directed me towards an autocratic style of leadership in many ways, but one specific

characteristic is the ability to make quick decisions in stressful situations.

To sum up everything that has been stated thus far, the objectives I have learned from

each course in the leadership minor will help set me apart as a candidate when I start to find a

career in the hospitality industry.  It has prepared me to understand purpose and collaboration

which are important points when going into the working field. Additionally, this minor has

shown me what type of leader I am and has given me self-awareness in terms of how to improve

my weaknesses and strengths.

 References:

Al-Ababneh, Dr. Mukhles. Leadership Style of Managers in Five-Star Hotels and Its

Relationship with Employee’s Job Satisfaction. June 2013,

www.ijmbs.com/32/2/mukhles.pdf.

Stories, Local. “Meet Bruce Faber of EHS Hospitality in Northern Suburbs.” Voyage Chicago |

Chicago City Guide, 25 Mar. 2019, voyagechicago.com/interview/meet-ehs-hospitality-

northern-suburbs/.