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Rewarding is not a cost, it is an investment
“Since we are very happy with your work, we would like to offer you and your family…”
This is what a voice message received from a hotelier I deeply respect, with whom I have collaborated for years, said.
Those who do my job know well: there is nothing more precious than a sold room, especially in high season. That’s why I have never wanted to “mooch” stays at the establishments I collaborate with. My approach is professional: every room has a value, every unsold night is a lost opportunity, lost money that you won’t recover tomorrow. When two days ago I asked for a quote from the colleague in the reservations office (yes, I am part of that market segment that often books last minute, not because I am unorganized but precisely because there are various family variables that lead us to book last minute), like any other customer, despite being the Revenue Manager of the establishment, I never expected the response I received.
And instead, that message arrived: “Since the company is happy with the results we are achieving (it’s not the first year we have worked together, so the positive results carry more weight) we want to host you and your family, it’s a gesture that we are pleased to make.”
I was moved. Not for the gift itself, but for what it represented.
The gesture of someone who sees your work.
Of someone who recognizes the commitment, even the silent one.
Of someone who truly appreciates the human and professional value of a collaboration.
And from there, as always, I reflected:
In the world of authentic leadership and people management, there is much talk of motivation, retention, engagement. But often we forget that the most powerful lever is gratitude.
“People don’t leave companies, they leave managers.”
One of the main reasons people leave a company is not salary, but lack of recognition.
Feeling seen, appreciated, valued for who you are and what you do, is one of the deepest human needs. And when this happens, the bond created is very strong.
Remember: “Rewarding is not a cost, it’s an investment”
A sincere gesture of recognition – whether it’s a word said at the right moment, an email, a small gift, or a week of hospitality – is not a loss for the company. It is a investment in human capital, which strengthens corporate culture, fosters a sense of belonging, and multiplies commitment.
As a coach and Revenue Manager, I see every day how numbers grow where people grow.
When a collaborator feels part of a project, when they perceive that the company cares about them, they give their best, go beyond the task, become proactive, take care of the details, fall in love with their work.
That voice message was not just a gesture of recognition. It was a symbolic hug, a saying: “You are here. We see you. Thank you.”
And this, for anyone who works with passion, is worth more than a thousand bonuses. Because the true reward is not the gift, but the relationship that is built over time, based on trust, respect, and mutual gratitude.
We are in an era where leadership can no longer be just directive, but must be human.
Those who lead a team, a hotel, a company, today have the responsibility (and the privilege) to create value through people, recognizing their contribution not only with numbers and KPIs, but with gestures of genuine attention.
So yes, let’s reward our collaborators. Not just with bonuses or incentives, but with what makes them feel important, recognized, indispensable.
Because when someone feels valued, they start to soar.
And with them, the company soars too.
Until next time,
Massimo Diodato
This is what a voice message received from a hotelier I deeply respect, with whom I have collaborated for years, said.
Those who do my job know well: there is nothing more precious than a sold room, especially in high season. That’s why I have never wanted to “mooch” stays at the establishments I collaborate with. My approach is professional: every room has a value, every unsold night is a lost opportunity, lost money that you won’t recover tomorrow. When two days ago I asked for a quote from the colleague in the reservations office (yes, I am part of that market segment that often books last minute, not because I am unorganized but precisely because there are various family variables that lead us to book last minute), like any other customer, despite being the Revenue Manager of the establishment, I never expected the response I received.
And instead, that message arrived: “Since the company is happy with the results we are achieving (it’s not the first year we have worked together, so the positive results carry more weight) we want to host you and your family, it’s a gesture that we are pleased to make.”
I was moved. Not for the gift itself, but for what it represented.
The gesture of someone who sees your work.
Of someone who recognizes the commitment, even the silent one.
Of someone who truly appreciates the human and professional value of a collaboration.
And from there, as always, I reflected:
In the world of authentic leadership and people management, there is much talk of motivation, retention, engagement. But often we forget that the most powerful lever is gratitude.
“People don’t leave companies, they leave managers.”
One of the main reasons people leave a company is not salary, but lack of recognition.
Feeling seen, appreciated, valued for who you are and what you do, is one of the deepest human needs. And when this happens, the bond created is very strong.
Remember: “Rewarding is not a cost, it’s an investment”
A sincere gesture of recognition – whether it’s a word said at the right moment, an email, a small gift, or a week of hospitality – is not a loss for the company. It is a investment in human capital, which strengthens corporate culture, fosters a sense of belonging, and multiplies commitment.
As a coach and Revenue Manager, I see every day how numbers grow where people grow.
When a collaborator feels part of a project, when they perceive that the company cares about them, they give their best, go beyond the task, become proactive, take care of the details, fall in love with their work.
That voice message was not just a gesture of recognition. It was a symbolic hug, a saying: “You are here. We see you. Thank you.”
And this, for anyone who works with passion, is worth more than a thousand bonuses. Because the true reward is not the gift, but the relationship that is built over time, based on trust, respect, and mutual gratitude.
We are in an era where leadership can no longer be just directive, but must be human.
Those who lead a team, a hotel, a company, today have the responsibility (and the privilege) to create value through people, recognizing their contribution not only with numbers and KPIs, but with gestures of genuine attention.
So yes, let’s reward our collaborators. Not just with bonuses or incentives, but with what makes them feel important, recognized, indispensable.
Because when someone feels valued, they start to soar.
And with them, the company soars too.
Until next time,
Massimo Diodato