Teamwork is the winning strategy
Who would you say was the linchpin of England's all-conquering Rugby World Cup-winning squad in Australia? Clive Woodward, for his peerless organisational skills and business acumen? Skipper Martin Johnson for his bulldog spirit and steely leadership? Or maybe Jonny Wilkinson for his godlike kicking and tackling?
Ask any of the squad members and they'll tell you that, while individual flair and vision is crucial, it was teamwork that finally secured the William Webb Ellis Trophy. Watching the footage of Matt Dawson, Martin Johnson and the rest of England's pack creating space for Wilkinson's drop-goal attempt in the dying moments of the final, it's hard to disagree. The same rules apply to the hotel sector: witness the story of boutique hotel chain Malmaison.
Launched in 1994, the Malmaison chain sprang from one man's vision of a lifestyle hotel where as much focus fell upon the brasserie as on the bedrooms. That man was Ken McCulloch; but by 1999 he was gone. Such is his affection for the Malmaison brand that outgoing managing director Charles Holmes likens McCulloch's enduring relationship with the company to that of "a parent giving birth to a child".
Post-McCulloch, Malmaison seemed to lose some of its vision and focus. A succession of owners came and went, and there was a noticeable dearth of new openings. To onlookers, it appeared as if it was finding it impossible to fill the void left by his departure.
Mal would appear to be getting back on track: this week sees its first London opening. Still, its story underlines the importance of effective succession planning and the danger of over-reliance upon a single brand champion. A personality cult is no substitute for a well-ordered corporate structure. As in the game of rugby, individual vision needs to be underpinned by a clearly defined and collective strategy.
Perhaps one or two of you are hatching a new business venture - a new breed of hotel, perhaps, or a ground-breaking restaurant concept. If so, Caterer wishes you all success. But remember this: your vision alone will not make a sustainable success of your venture. For that, you'll need to build a robust business that's capable of standing on its own two feet without you.
