Coaches and Consultants

Blogs from Hotel, Hospitality and Tourism Coaches and Consultants:

Hospitality Re-Defined

Hospitality Re-Defined is a blog by Dale Dyck, a dynamic natural leader who provides a balanced approach to results, ensuring the maximization of ALL of the pillars of a successful operation, with equal emphasis on strong Financial Results, Exceptional Guest Service and Guest Loyalty, and Employee Engagement.

Grooming Policies (How many piercings is too many?)

In Search of Service – The Rule of 10 & 5

Don’t Burn Those Bridges – Not Even By Accident

Great Leaders - Common Traits

Succession Planning - Are You Ready for Change?

Getting to Delight

Getting to delight is a powerful way of life to create happiness for the people around you by being happy yourself – It all begins with you. Hotel Trainer, Vasanth shares the “Getting to Delight” philosophy through training programs from May 2008.

Begin with a parable to improve your reading habit - Sun, 25 Jul 2010

At the end of a recent training session where I spoke about the benefits of reading as a habit, one of the participants handed in a little note that read, "This day I will never forget. I fully understand the importance of reading and you are my inspiration. If you don't mind, give me a book for reading. Thank you."

When I got back home, I looked at my collection to check if I had any additional copies of few of my favorite parables that include; (1) Fish (2) Who moved my Cheese?(3) Eat that Frog (4) Juggling Elephants. Since I had no spare copies, I decided to buy a new one as a gift for the compliment I received from this young employee who showed profound interest in developing his reading habit.

As I looked around in the book shop, my eyes fell upon a catchy title - "the Napkin, the Melon and the Monkey" by Babara Burke.

I could not hold my curiosity for long enough even to pay that I was already reading this 130 page book while standing in queue at the cash desk. I love parables as they convey universal truths and realities of work life with a humor element (One normally smiles relating his/her own experience of the situation). This is the main reason, I choose parables as gift to people who struggle completing a book but want to improve on their reading habit.

This one is no exception and a MUST READ. What I liked most about this book is that it is a quick read and Barbara's style of making the readers realize the AHA! moments through her main character Olivia.

Olivia's list of AHA's summarized in the last page of the book is given below. Most of these sound so simple, easy, logical and true to life that I decided to include them in my blog page.

Aha! #1: I will always have problems

Aha! #2: It's not about me.

Aha! #3: Problems can be gifts in disguise

Aha! #4: Just sit there. Do nothing

Aha! #5: There is no such thing as a difficult situation

Aha! #6: When all else fails, have a SODA (Stop, Observe, Decide and Act)

Aha! #7: Withholding judgement allows me to observe what is

Aha! #8: The nicer I am to myself, the nicer I am to others

Aha! #9: A simple apology works wonders

Aha! #10: The less I talk, the more I learn.

Aha! #11: People harmonize when they are tuned into the same frequency

Aha! #12: Great Supervisors follow the GOLDEN RULE "Treat others as you would like to be treated" and DO THE RIGHT THING

Aha! #13: Spreading my wings is the only way to fly.

Aha! #14: Give a little, get a lot

Aha! #15: Remember, we all share the same vine

Aha! #16: United we stand. Divided we fall

Aha! #17: Our stories connect us with each other

Aha! #18: Success comes from bringing out the best in others

Aha! #19: Winners don't just point out problems. They fix them

Aha! #20: It's not what happens to you in life, it's what you do with what happens that counts

Aha! #21: Real freedom comes from letting go of the outcome

Aha! #22: Generous hearts make a difference

I encourage you to read this book to relate and enjoy each one of those Aha! moments listed up there. Kudos & thanks to authors like Barbara who constantly remind and teach you to unplug every now and then in life.

Aha! It would not be fair if I do not mention & thank Gopal - the employee at my client's who wrote that note after my session. He was the reason I could read this lovely parable and now I am glad he will benefit too reading this book.

Delight yourself first to delight people around you. Most importantly, make you choice NOW!

Meet me at: www.gettingtodelight.com

Powerful words to use in abundance - Thu, 10 Jun 2010

Mom's Crispy dosas for breakfast, dad's caring reminder about my medicines as I left home, my 60+ year old driver's patience and skill to navigate across the morning traffic to get me on time for the session, 2 hours of teaching a group of interactive & lively students, getting invited for the Founder's/Staff day of a great organization with glorious history, a relaxed work day, decreasing pain of the DES (Dry eye syndrome) that I am struggling from over the last few days and the list goes on..... By now, you are starting to wonder what the hell I am talking about?

These thoughts were after effects of a call from the Executive Director of this organization that celebrated its Founders' day (42 years) today. I was unable to answer immediately and returned her call after about 20-30 minutes. Before I could utter a word, I heard her say; "Two things Vasanth". Yes, you guessed my next move - I was pulling out a pen to make a note with "Yes please".

She said, "ONE, I wanted to ensure that you are going to be there for the Founder's day this evening". I had already been invited by the HR head & told her that I would most certainly be there.

Then she said: "TWO, THANK YOU" and then silence.

I wasn't quite expecting that and echoed, "thank you for?"

She replied; "FOR BEING THERE"

I felt good, more wanted, more appreciated and more important. Then humility descended on me and I felt more belonged to the organization.

When the call was over, I was already thinking deep about my one year as a training Consultant with this institution, how things have changed, a self assessment of how much I have contributed and the journey ahead.

It did not stop there. When I finally got back home at 6pm, I was recollecting the missed opportunities for the day to say "Thank you..followed by silence". Those are the first few lines of this blog.

We do so much of a routine every day that "thank you" is never said in many instances, particularly to the near & dear and to the people with whom we interact often. If the words have so much power, why not use it more often as possible?.

We give what we choose and receive back that which we give. Say thank you and watch the results in your life. Then try saying thank you even before the desired results occur. You will be amazed by how quickly your life becomes filled with wonderful outcomes that some choose to call MIRACLES - Rev. Michael C Rann in his write-up called "Short Cut to a Miracle"

THANK YOU GOD for reminding me and making me realize the power of "THANK YOU".

To YOU, my readers - THANK YOU!