Training Articles (formerly Member Blog)

There is a lot of talk about mindfulness these days! It is a nice word, and maybe just a new catchphrase, but it is hard not to wonder what it really means and how we can be more mindful? And, how being mindful can help us de-stress and be more effective in our jobs.

Over the past few years, I started approaching my attendance at CHART conferences differently. I realized that while the content of speakers was helping in my development, if I also paid attention to the logistics of the conference and unique features that engage attendees, I benefited in a key aspect of my position at work – planning training workshops and my brand leadership conference.

Having recently undertaken a corporate rebranding exercise, I am very aware of the importance of tying in company culture and values to team members’ every day work experiences. Incentive-based recognition strategies are tangible ways to bring the company’s culture to life and improve employee satisfaction and performance.

To help create your goals for 2019, I believe the best place to start is CHART’s guiding principles. So, grab a piece of paper, your phone, wherever you prefer to write down your notes and begin your journey to achieving your 2019 resolutions and goals!

Executive presence is a top development area for leaders and emerging leaders. It is the “wow” factor. Although some may be born with executive presence, the good news is that it is very learnable, and we can all get better at it. Learn five strategies to improve your personal brand and ability to command a room with this brief blast of brilliance CHART Talks video.

How do you deliver the guest experience with winning performance all the time? In this brief blast of brilliance seven-minute video, Dr. Mike describes how to work with your team members to give feedback to constantly move toward this goal.

As we turn the page on the calendar and begin preparing for the most magical time of the year when everyone around you suddenly starts…to get sick. Yes, that’s right – it’s going to be cold and flu season before you know it. How can we, as a community of hospitality trainers, help to prevent the spread of these ailments in our hotels and restaurants?

Two years ago, as Director of Recruiting and Training for Ivar’s Restaurants, I applied to join the Executive Track Competency Capstone session that would be taking place on the Saturday of the CHART conference in Charleston. Once the session got underway, my thinking began to radically change for three reasons.

A familiar scenario often occurs within organizations. Our team members, with a “check the box” mentality, believe that the path to a promotion is a matter of completing certain subscribed training tasks and programs. In doing so, mission accomplished…or is it?

Ever been fooled by a great interview, only to find out later that he or she wasn't a great fit? Here's what we recommend to ensure you hire the right person the first time.

Most people who have worked in the hospitality industry know the importance of strong teamwork in their operations. When a team doesn’t work well together during a shift, it seems like everything starts to increase: lines, wait times, stress levels, and tempers. If allowed to continue from day to day, a hotel or restaurant with poor teamwork can soon expect everything to start to decrease: guest satisfaction, return visits, employee tenure, and profits.

Engaging workers in their twenties and thirties to stay with your company can be a challenge, but it may not be as difficult as you think. The current generation of workers comprises 35% of the labor force in the United States and they’re steadily moving up through the ranks into management positions. They job-hop at least 20 times in search of job fulfillment, mobility and work-life balance, resulting in lower management retention.