From Catamarans to Conference Rooms: What Guides Can Teach Us

From Catamarans to Conference Rooms: What Guides Can Teach Us

By Desiree Grace

Ever notice how travel expands your mind and your life? Drink strong Greek coffee, and suddenly your coffee routine at home changes. Eat real Mexican food and never spend a penny at Taco Bell ever again. Appreciate how the Europeans take vacation seriously and rethink your out-of-office time. I spent a few days on vacation and had the opportunity to observe some real professionals at work. Tour Guides are masters of managing crowds and people. While this might be the tourist trade, a lot of the lessons and skills are transferable to any trade, especially Sales and Management. As a gesture of goodwill and international cooperation, I share with you the following 6 lessons learned from Tour Guides.

 

1.     How you start matters

a.     “Hello, Beautiful People! Welcome to our catamaran!”  Wow, what a way to start. You cannot get much more positive than that. Said with high energy, you know at once you are in for a fun experience. Set the tone with purpose and intention. You have everyone’s attention, and they are pleased and interested in what you have to say.

b.     Sharing the agenda, the game plan, the number of food stops, the number of steps, when the restroom breaks happen, and other useful information lets people know what to expect and when. It reassures them that you are professional and organized. Maybe even have a handout with scheduled breaks. Professionals love to know when they can check email or return phone calls. Letting them know you have a plan for them keeps their attention.

2.     Shake off a miserable client & always stay calm

a.     Your first group of the day is a bunch of demanding sourpusses. Do you let that sour the entire day? No! You shake it off and start fresh with the next group. You don’t bring the hangover from the prior group into your next project.

b.     Never lose your cool. Professionals keep smiling and stay calm. If they need to deal with an unruly audience member, they do so firmly, politely, and quietly. That devil’s advocate during your group presentation. Don’t let him or her rattle you. That’s their game plan and you are playing to win, so you keep your cool, no matter what.

3.     Expect the unexpected and have a plan

a.     The headset stops working, but you have a spare. You bring an extra water bottle or umbrella. Your next stop on the tour is running behind, so you pause at a local landmark and share some interesting information. Having a backup plan or a way to manage your time in case of contingencies never hurts.

b.     Don’t swell on a mishap. Okay, so the fountain is hidden under painted panels and under restoration. A recent event not foreseen. Note it and move on. Nobody will make a big deal out of it if you don’t. 

4.     Bring props & tell stories

a.     Showing pictures, diagrams, or maps is a great way to underscore your point. I’ve even seen tour guides bring dolls or art to make their point. Nothing drives home a point like a prop that people can look at or even pass around. Samples of your product accomplish the same thing.

b.     Who doesn’t love a good story? Stories make your information come alive and engage your audience in a way that merely transmitting information does not. Case studies, testimonials, and examples of applications that succeeded get the job done.

5Be aware of your audience and tend to individuals while being respectful of the group, adapt to conditions and people

a.     A gent trips and falls. Pause, help him up, ask if he needs medical attention, while directing the rest of the clients to note the view and take pictures. Keeping things moving while also ensuring outliers get the care they need is an important skill. Whether managing people or groups of tourists, this skill set will help you help others.

b.     It’s really hot, and you have an older person on the tour. Point out the water fountains on the route and find shady spots to share information. This is one example of consideration that’s easy. It could be printing out handouts in a different language if your audience has a first language different from yours. Examples abound. Maybe you have a mix of new and experienced people in your seminar. Strive to explain, but don’t leave out the local experts. Include them and leverage their knowledge to help the newcomers.

6.     Keep the energy high and positive, share your passion

a.     Energy is contagious. If you stay high energy, focused, and positive, everyone else in the group will take their cues from you.

b.     Passion and enthusiasm cannot be faked. Do what you love and love what you do. Your day will seem a lot more like play and be a lot more rewarding. Consider this when you take on a project. If you are passionate about your company and your product, it will translate.  People will love your work. They will tip and buy accordingly.

c.     Sincerity cannot be faked, either. If you ever had a tour guide who clearly was in it for the commissions and constantly mentioned his 8 hungry kids at home, you know what I mean. The man or woman who loves their country and their subject matter builds trust and earns their tips the right way. They also earn referrals. Now, that’s how you build a business.

Any time you have the chance to watch other professionals work, even in a different industry, it’s an opportunity to learn and grow, much like travel. Travel can expand your world in many ways. Try to apply what you have learned from tour guides to your professional life.  I know I will.

The next time I lead a seminar, meeting, or training, I’m going to greet the group with energy, positivity, and an enormous smile. “Hello, Beautiful People” might just be my new greeting. Which of these lessons could you apply in your role?

About the Author

Desiree Grace believes leadership lessons are everywhere, even on vacation. With years of experience in business and sales leadership, she knows the value of adaptability, positivity, and passion. Whether managing a team or learning from a tour guide, she’s always looking for practical insights that translate into stronger performance. Desiree shares her stories to inspire others to lead with purpose, professionalism, and a sense of adventure. 

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