Journals of a Hotel Manager

Mr. Mac called to say that he will be visiting us at the end of the month. I haven’t seen him for about a year. As the company’s vice president for operations, Mr. Mac visits hotels in his region at least once a year. He may look Irish: red hair, blue eyes, freckles and the whole lot. Having lived and worked in Asia for over 25 years, Mr. Mac is truly Asian at heart.

During his last visit when I reported to him about my decision to hire my resident manager, Lincoln, I was expecting to be asked some sharp questions about my evaluation of him.

“What is his Chinese horoscope sign?” asked Mr. Mac.

“Uh… I have no idea,” I admitted.

Don’t you just hate that your boss always asks the only question to which you have no answer? I do that to my staff all the time. Now it was my turn.

“I will find out and get back to you,” I promised.

I found out from Lincoln, who had to look it up online, that he has the sign of rooster. He must have thought that I was suffering from island fever to ask such a question during an important career interview process.

Before I informed Mr. Mac I had looked mine up online out of curiosity. Luckily I did because the first question he asked after I reported to him about Lincoln being a rooster was, “And what’s your sign?”

“My sign is the dog,” I answered promptly.

Mr. Mac dug into his briefcase and retrieved a small book which read ‘Chinese Astrology Almanac’. He flipped through the pages while muttering to himself “dog and rooster… rooster and dog…”

After reading intensely for a few minutes, he told me, “Hire the guy. You are a good match to work together.”

“Um, would you like to look at his resume and recommendations? He was working at …”

“Just do it,” Mr. Mac waved his freckled hand benevolently, “I trust your judgment. Here in the book it says a dog will be a good leader for a rooster, while a rooster will be a good assistant. So hire the guy.”

I wish all bosses could be as perceptive. Truth be told, Lincoln and I work very well together. Perhaps when Mr. Mac comes, I should ask for his little book and check if the new HR director will be a good match for us.  And what does the book say about 2009, Year of the Ox.