TOUR GUIDING

Building relationship

the way in which two or more people or things are connected, or the state of being connected.

Relationship

Your relationships with your colleagues are important. Good workplace relationships can help you do your job better. They can make going to work everyday enjoyable. Bad relationships with colleagues can distract you and can turn a so-so job into a nightmare. These resources will help you have good relationships with your colleagues.

Most people don’t naturally reach out to strangers. Those few who do tend to become entertainers or sales people, and the rest of us tend to judge ourselves as “shy” because we don’t act the same way. Most people, in fact, describe themselves as shy at least some of the time (Stocker, 1997); good communicators simply learn to overcome their reticence and make the connections they need to make with people.

To build a Good Relationship Identify their needs and wants Let people know what you are

doing for them Maintain multiple lines of

communication that the client may use

Avoid arguing with a client Be honest with the client at all

times

Relationships with Fellow Guides

One of signs of professionalism is excellent relationships with one's own colleagues. Those who promote beneficial relationships with their peers are highly respected.

Some steps that guides can take to foster symbiotic professional relationships 1. Treat others as you would wish to

be treated. Refrain from gossip and chronic complaining.

2. When taking visitors to crowded places, guides should be considerate with other guides and groups who are waiting to see a site. This means spending less time than usual in certain places.

3. Always share information that could be

helpful to colleagues. Inform guides'

association about a topic in which one is

knowledgeable; share news with other guides. These gestures will earn

respect and gratitude.

Relationships with employers Like all employees, guides have

responsibilities to their employers.

The following factors can enhance a guide's relationship with employers

1. Always appear neat and clean with proper uniform and badge.

2. Maintain a businesslike and socially acceptable demeanor. Avoid foul language and excessive drinking. Most companies prohibit drinking before or during any tour.

3. Never share a company's trade secrets or internal problems with clients or with employees of another company.

4. Follow and complete the tour itinerary. When this becomes difficult because of inclement weather, queues, accidents during the tour, contact the employer immediately.

5. Never solicit work for oneself or another company through a company's client. Since guides work very closely with clients and often develop close relationships with them, clients often ask if they could contact the guide directly. When asked for a business card, the proper response is for the guide to provide the business card of the company that hired him or her. Even if the company does not provide business cards, the guide should give the address and telephone number of the company to anybody on the tour who is interested.

Relationships with other colleagues

A guide's colleagues include other guides in travel industry includes, travel agents, visitor information personnel, hotel and restaurant employees and all those who work at site attractions and travelers visit

1. Attempt to learn more about the other aspects of the industry. By understanding the demands of a hotel front clerk or airline ticket agent, guides will be able to work more empathetically, cooperatively and effectively with them.

2. Always acknowledge a colleagues' excellent service by telling it to the individual concerned, the individual's supervisor or the travelers who have benefited from it.

3. If a problem arises, discuss it privately, without being heard by clients. A private conversation between the guide and the colleague can help promote a spirit of cooperation rather than confrontation.

4. Avoid gossip about colleagues

Relationships to TravelersTreatment for travelers1. Guides must treat all tour members with equal time, attention and dignity. Every customer is a "Very Important Person" who deserves equal respect regardless of his or her social standing or the amount of money that he or she has.

2. Guide as should give accurate and interesting information and strive to learn more. This includes learning about the visitors since it enhances the effectiveness of a guide's interpretations and promotes goodwill.

Things to Remember about Workplace Boundaries:

The workplace alone does not define who we are.

No one should be defined solely by the work they do. Without a strong sense of personal identity or self-esteem, a person may tie his or her self-worth to the job. Unfortunately, employment is one of the things we can least control. Dedication and hard work do not guarantee a permanent position.

Therefore, a strong boundary between job and self is essential. We have to believe we have the ability to cope with or overcome any situation that might arise at work.

Supervisory relationships are different than co-worker relationships.

Communication with a supervisor should not be the same as communication with a co-worker. Words and actions should be more formal and reflect a respect for the position. With regard to respect for the person, however, a clear boundary between what is respectful and disrespectful must be established between the two individuals. (Yelling or a condescending attitude should not be tolerated by either side.)

Good leadership skills allow for equality within the group, as well as guidance from the supervisor.

Everyone at work does not have to like us

In any relationship, mutual trust and respect is most important. A workplace boundary that establishes a minimal level of trust and respect will help overcome personality, cultural and political differences. Remember, at work the primary goal should be to complete the job efficiently.

Character (honest, fair and hardworking) will usually command a high level of respect, which is far more important than being liked. Respect should always be the primary goal. In reality, however, someone who is respected has a much better chance of being liked.

Personal relationships should not interfere with workplace interaction.

As mentioned before, personal relationships can and do develop from workplace relationships. Over time, as mutual trust and respect grows the formal boundaries of the workplace may be replaced with the more casual boundaries of friends.

This is not a problem unless casual boundaries begin to affect workplace behavior. At work, the main focus of each person should be on the job. If a strong boundary between personal and workplace behavior cannot be established, it may be time for one or both of the individuals involved to find other employment.