Hyatt Hotels Corporation finance director Dharmendra Agrawal believes people work best when they are happy. He likes to make sure his team feels supported, especially in tough times. In his experience, good energy at work leads to better results.
At first glance, Dharmendra Agrawal’s optimism seems effortless. Each morning, he greets his team with a smile, as he believes the energy a leader brings into a room sets the tone for the day.
“If people around you are happy, they’ll deliver for you. Finance has to set the tone. If you walk in with a smile, you’ve already improved the day’s results. When you make people comfortable, they do better work without fear. A positive environment gives energy to everyone,” he says.
Dharmendra began his career in his native India decades ago and now oversees Hyatt Hotel Corporation’s finance function across East Africa. The hotel business demands that people put on a pleasant face even under stress. But Dharmendra has taken care to cultivate a sense of satisfaction in his team.
“You cannot expect service excellence from someone who feels unseen. When you show care, people give you back more than 100 percent. I always tell my team to make sure the person next to you is smiling. Once that happens, the business will automatically grow,” he explains.
A few years ago, one of Dharmendra’s colleagues was diagnosed with cancer just months after joining the company. The company’s official policy allowed management to terminate their contract or suspend pay after a few weeks of sick leave, but Dharmendra chose to continue paying their full salary throughout their nine-month treatment. Each month, he sent messages of encouragement, assuring them that their job would be waiting when they recovered. Dharmendra calls it one of the easiest decisions he has ever made.
Keeping it simple
“The same employee came back stronger and more loyal than before. When people know the organisation stands with them, they never forget. If you care for people today, they will care for the company tomorrow,” he says.
When figures do not add up, Dharmendra prefers to sit beside an employee and trace the mistake line by line. As he sees it, a public reprimand often kills initiative. He tries to turn every review into a teaching moment, using humour to ease tension.
“I like to keep communication simple. I never raise my voice because people stop learning when they are afraid. Once they understand the reason, they improve and stay confident,” he reveals.
Even during audits or nights when the team must stay up to complete reconciliations, Dharmendra advocates for staying calm. He often reads the mood of the room before saying anything. For him, joy is a reliable performance indicator and a sign that people feel safe enough to do their best work.
“You cannot calculate everything only with numbers. The feeling inside the team is also a result to measure. When people are happy, they take ownership and stop waiting for instructions. That is the real success of any finance leader,” he says.
After hours, Dharmendra keeps the same philosophy going through physical exercise. He plays badminton or cricket four to five times a week, often joining colleagues and neighbours for games. The routine clears his mind and keeps his momentum going. He calls sports his “battery charger”, as he likes to channel the energy it gives him back into his work.
“If you do something with passion, it will give you energy. When you enjoy what you do, tiredness goes away. I play every week because it keeps me positive and helps me handle stress. Balance gives energy to both body and mind,” he says.
