About Lesson
- Enthusiasm – most important characteristic of successful guides is the keen interest for the subject matters and the travelers. Enthusiasm will enable the guide to w/stand mentally and physically exhausting experiences. It is usually accompanied by friendliness and generosity.
- An outgoing and approachable nature – Since guides are in the business of meeting, welcoming and working for strangers, it is important that they be friendly, open in many types of situations and encourage others to do the same.
- Self- confidence – Developing self confidence in a career requires self- esteem combined with experience. It enables guides to carry on their duties effectively, to put people at ease, and to help create enjoyable experience.
- A proactive Nature – One if the signs of a leader are the belief to initiate change and the willingness to assume responsibility for initiating change. This belief is usually accompanied by a high sense of optimism. This proactive behavior is necessary for success in guiding because guides are subject to challenging and unpredictable situation w/c they must find quick solution.
- Sensitivity – It includes the wide range of human understanding. In addition to liking people, successful guides are compassionate, respectful, tactful, and observant. They are sensitive to the needs of tourist.
- Flexibility – Ability to be adaptable and patient. Flexibility and patience are essential in the travel business where even the best planned itinerary may go wrong.
- Authenticity – this characteristic means genuineness and honesty. Most tourist trust guides who are honest and sincere.
- A pleasant, professional appearance – First impressions are often lasting and are frequently based on one’s physical appearance
- Sense of Humor – A good sense of humor can bring people closer together, put them at ease and help make travel enjoyable instead of stressful and unpleasant. Since more people like to laugh, they usually appreciate guides who have a sense of humor.
- Knowledge – A well rounded body of knowledge about diff. topics is very important. It is essential that guides investigate the local educational program from each region.
- Good communication Skills – The most knowledgeable and sensitive person will not succeed as a guide w/out the ability to communicate well. Good Communication skills include articulation, eye contact, gestures, and a clear pleasant speaking voice. A nasal voice, a thick accent, wrong inflections, nervous gestures are very distracting and overshadow the positive traits a guide possesses.
- Organization – Time management and organization skills are very important skills. Among the task that a guide must perform everyday are sticking to a schedule despite delays, meeting appointment, and confirmation letters, passengers’ info and bookkeeping task. Guides are expected to write and record checks, confirm reservations, coordinate routes w/ drivers, update their agencies. All off these task are require consistent planning, time management , precise attention to details
- Decisiveness– a guide must be able to make quick decisions. This decision may be unpopular or costly. Frequently, a tour emergency may require quick, difficult decisions that involve spending the company’s money or changing an itinerary.
- Good Health– Guiding is strenuous. It entails a good deal of walking, long and irregular hours, diff. diets and eating schedules. The stress of always being In the stoplight requires plenty energy and flexibility
- Personal Integrity– A strong sense of ethics is essential to success. Guides have a moral responsibility to themselves. Their employees, colleagues, travelers and even their regions.
- Charisma – Defined as a “Personal Magic of Leaderships arousing popular loyalty or enthusiasm”. A charisma is the combination of the many traits that guide should possess.