An In Good Company podcast with Ulises Ledesma, turtle volunteer and restaurant manager.
Rescuing turtles and transforming five-star destinations: A conversation with Ulises Ledesma
What can turtles teach us about leadership? In this episode, Dan explores the sweet spot where passion and purpose overlap. Alongside running a turtle sanctuary in Mexico, Ulises Ledesma is known for stepping into chaotic environments and helping effect positive transformation, helping organizations and people to improve operational excellence and reconnect with what matters most.
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In this episode, Ulises talks to Dan about his wide-ranging experience working in some of Mexico's most luxurious destinations, transforming hospitality organisations, and rescuing sea turtles. Their conversation covers:
- Turtle conservation and purpose-driven work
- Human and emotional connection
- Hospitality and organisational culture
- Building high-performing teams
- Driving change and transformation
How can leaders create a sense of purpose and motivation in everyday work?
Not all missions will be as obviously inspiring as saving turtles. But what can leaders learn from this?
Try to catch people doing something right. Try to catch people doing something the right way and give it some applause, motivate the people. And they will feel that what they are doing is perfect. If they need applause, if they need a touch on the shoulder, if they need just a small note, like ‘Hey, I'm so glad about what you did yesterday in the restaurant' or, 'Guys, I’d like to take you for breakfast because yesterday we rescued nineteen mama turtles and more than two thousand turtle eggs.’ To me, those are golden nuggets to motivate people. So that's why to me, the best atmosphere that we can create for our employees or colleagues is by motivating the people.
If someone is doing something right, you should motivate them, you must say something, because sometimes we don't know if we are right or wrong, if this is the correct way. If I have to wait for an evaluation every six months, come on, it's too late. So every day to me, day by day and shift by shift, we have to motivate our staff and our colleagues.
What do leaders often overlook when trying to build a service-driven culture and team environment?
I think they miss connecting with people. If people are not fine and comfortable at home, they won't feel fine and comfortable at work. If they don't find that this is the place where they want to stay and their family is fine, they will find another place. Because sometimes in the hotel industry, the brands are beautiful but the income and the communication and the support – sometimes these things are missing. They don't know anything about their staff. ‘How's your family? How's your kids? How's your wife? How's your house? How's everything?’ That's my advice to everybody: we need to connect with our staff.
Tell us about being hired by organisations to help when they've just opened or there's a problem training staff.
When I arrive at a new restaurant, hotel or any place, I have a meeting with each one of the colleagues. What would you like? What do you need? What comes first for you? How can I help you? Because if I come in with an idea but the idea doesn’t connect with the vision and mission and the values of the place, now we are talking about two different things. To me it's very important to understand, what are your vision, mission, and values? What are your objectives for this year? And then we can work together. I don't want to just come to the rescue.
'I found my purpose and meaning in life, and it’s about sharing and teaching.’
Listen to the podcast with Ulises on Spotify
Project Tortuga
Project Tortuga has been dedicated to the conservation and protection of endangered sea turtles since 1991. Find out more about their work here.
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