Guided by Greatness: My Journey as a CHART Facilitator

CHART gives us many ways to spread our wings, and this most recent conference in Louisville was exactly that for me. In reality, it all stems back to the summer conference in 2024.

In Chicago last summer, I facilitated a conference breakout session centered around navigating tech implications for hospitality trainers. Some CHART long-timers and legends were present in my session. I did what I believe we all do. I shook in my proverbial boots (after acknowledging these individuals I have admired for so long) and dove straight in, nerves and all. One of those giants was Curt Archambault, CHART Board Learning Strategist. Less than five minutes into my session, two participants gracefully exited the room. But the giants were still there, patiently waiting for the good stuff. Everyone participated and was engaged. To my surprise, Curt was supremely engaged and commented on his learning. What an honor to have received such great feedback from him, both about ways to improve my facilitation and things that resonated with him. Later in the conference, he asked if I would want to facilitate a Hospitality Training Competency workshop.

I have had a motto throughout my career. When asked to do something new: if it makes me nervous, just say yes. To facilitate a competency workshop, you must have finished a competency track. The only track I had completed was the Executive Track. Tracks are where master facilitators impart their knowledge. While I have grown in my career, I am nowhere near that status. Plus, imposter syndrome is real.

Have you ever felt both frightened and nurtured by the same source? That is what it was like being paired with Donna Herbel, legend and past president of CHART. Donna often graces us with her knowledge and wisdom. She shares it openly and kindly, influencing our own training strategies and company pitches.

I was very surprised by her approach. We met several times to review the Strategic Planning competency. She started by asking what topics I would want to discuss. She afforded me the ability to be authentic and coaxed from me techniques I did not know I had. The knowledge she bestowed during our session was invaluable to those in the room. However, this was not her heavy lift. The work she did for weeks to help me be a better presenter and facilitator is her true gift to CHART and to me. Donna challenged me to think about facilitating in new ways. I’m typically a “wing it” person. Experience has taught me that there is such a thing as over-preparing. Out of respect for Donna and anyone going through the Executive Track, I did not want to do that this time. The result could have come across as robotic and inauthentic. With Donna’s gentle guidance, I finally found the happy medium of preparation and on-stage flexibility.

If you were in our Strategic Planning session, thank you for your trust. I am forever grateful to Donna for her influence and feedback. As I look to future conferences, I think of so many of my CHART peers and what we learn from each other in the three short days we spend together at our conferences. Please, take the plunge. Facilitate a breakout or volunteer to a capacity that makes you nervous. Nerves help you spread your wings. CHART is a great safety net for that first flight. If it makes you nervous, say yes! The lessons and growth from that simple word can be endless.