“I strongly believe that leadership should not come from a place of authority or superiority, but from the ability to motivate and inspire others to follow you,” says Adrian Fernandez, Certified Tourism Professional, whose career in the hospitality and tourism sector spans nearly 16 years.
For Fernandez, this type of leadership creates an environment where people feel respected and valued. “This type of leadership encourages a sense of respect, where team members feel empowered and valued, rather than just obliged to follow orders.”
He believes the service and hospitality industries today demand leaders who guide by vision rather than hierarchy. “When you lead by inspiration, you motivate your team to work with passion and dedication, not because they are being told what to do, but because they believe in your vision and are driven by your example.”
Such leadership builds collaboration instead of rivalry. “This kind of leadership fosters a culture of collaboration rather than one of competition, where people genuinely care about each other’s success and are committed to delivering outstanding service because they are personally invested in their roles.”
Fernandez practices what he preaches. “To inspire my team to deliver exceptional service and performance, I believe that leading by example is key. I make sure to praise my team when they deserve it, recognizing their hard work and effort. This creates a space where people feel valued and motivated to keep pushing themselves to do their best.”
He ensures that the standards he expects are the ones he lives by. “I also ensure that I walk the talk, consistently demonstrating the standards of service I expect from them. When my team sees me putting in the effort and maintaining a high level of dedication, they are inspired to do the same.”
For Fernandez, leadership is not about control—it’s about influence. “The real test of leadership is when people follow you, not because you told them to, but because they look up to you and want to be like you. It’s about inspiring others so much that they want to lead themselves.”
He sees the ultimate goal of leadership as creating more leaders. “The true value of being a leader is not just to lead, but to help others grow and become leaders too. By showing them the way, you help them discover their own potential, and together, you can build a team of leaders who inspire even more people.”
