Ready, reset, go!

RESET and accelerate - the 2 buzzwords that have come out of the pandemic, and I find myself relating to them in more ways than one.

My personal reset came with a career break in 2020. At that point, my 26-year journey in the hospitality industry had taken its toll with constant business travel, disrupted sleeping patterns and an irregular diet. I experienced weight gain and with it came a host of health-related issues such as pre-diabetes, high cholesterol and high blood pressure.

2020 was also the start of the pandemic. After weeks of staying at home, my son urged me to get off the couch and that was when I began to take a serious look at my health. I explored various exercises and diets that could help me build up my health and fitness. It was then that my friends introduced me to cycling, and I have never looked back since.

Today, I have set a goal for myself to clock 400 km a month. I cycle 2 to 3 times a week, each time ranging from 2 hours and 15 minutes for 50 km, to around 5 hours for 100 km. I have gone from cycling through park connectors to road cycling, and explored new parts of Singapore from Punggol in the north-east to Little Guilin in the west and many more. The new Changi Bay Park Connector is fast becoming one of my favourite routes, and needless to say, I am very excited about the National Parks Board's plans to extend the Park Connector Network which will bring greater joy for all cycling enthusiasts.

Cycling has since helped me become 10 kg lighter with a cleaner bill of health, but to me it is now far more than a utilitarian activity to change my lifestyle. It introduced me to an extended community of fellow cycling enthusiasts who have not only encouraged me, but pushed me to new limits I never thought I could reach. More importantly, it gave me a chance to find my own personal rhythm and taught me valuable lessons that I now bring into my workspace, and has reshaped my leadership.

• Lesson 1: Your team can make you better.

Leadership is very much like riding a bicycle. As leaders steer the organisation, it is really the wheels - the people - that keep us going. At Hilton, we always strive to create the best, most inclusive culture for our team members. The diversity has brought so much talent into the organisation and I am learning new things each day. More importantly, in the same way I found support in the cycling community that has pushed my limits, I also empower our team to work together and constantly challenge and lift each other. We are only better and brighter when we are together.

• Lesson 2: Learn to ride in the rain.

It is not always sunshine when you are cycling. Similarly, working in hospitality development for one of the fastest growing hotel companies in Asia also comes with its challenges, especially with the added complexity of the pandemic. In the face of adversity, my renewed sense of calmness and alertness has helped me identify issues quicker, think out of the box and take everything in stride. Like the rest of the hospitality industry, Hilton has battled the storm in the past 2 years and with Asia gearing up for travel recovery, we are ready to welcome our guests back.

• Lesson 3: Forge deeper connections like how we used to.

Being a part of group cycling has reminded me of the importance of human connection - something we have all missed with social distancing and isolation the norm now. As the world prepares to embrace the idea of endemic and as borders open, we need to renew person-to-person interactions and re-establish the human connection in the hospitality industry. But work aside, my love for cycling has also led me to forge new friendships at work as I bonded with colleagues who are fellow cycling enthusiasts.

Much like how I plan to maintain my routine of 400 km a month and climb up leader boards in the virtual challenges, Hilton has also set ourselves ambitious targets to sustain our growth momentum, tap into key market segments and grow our development pipeline to prepare for travel recovery in the region. It is now full speed ahead for Hilton and myself, and I am excited and ready for what is to come.

Clarence Tan, 54, is senior vice-president for development at Hilton.