Lighting Up Life One Pine Needle at a Time Travel-Worthy Christmas Trees As the holiday season approaches, the twinkling lights and spectacular Christmas tree attractions are always a must-see! Here are the best travel destinations to catch a glimpse of one of the pillars of the holidays. THE ROCKEFELLER CENTER TREE IN NEW YORK CITY The Rockefeller Center tree is located just west of 5th Avenue from 47th through 51st streets in New York City and dates back to the Depression era, with the first tree placed there in 1931. This beloved tourist attraction draws thousands yearly with its dazzling lights and grand scale. To even be considered a contender for this role, a tree must be at least 65 feet tall and 35 feet wide! THE NATIONAL CHRISTMAS TREE IN WASHINGTON, D.C. This American favorite has long been a tradition. Every year, the ceremony begins with live performances by musical artists, and an annual highlight is when the president delivers a message of peace.
2,500 red, white, and green electric bulbs. A local choir and a quartet from the U.S. Marine Band performed as the tree was lit.
THE COEUR D’ALENE RESORT TREE IN IDAHO Also known as the World’s Tallest Living Christmas Tree, this grand fir holds the record at 162 feet tall. It is festively decorated with more than 40,000 lights that twinkle in time to the music of “Jingle Bells,” and the tree is crowned with a 10-foot-wide star! THE BILTMORE CHRISTMAS TREE IN NORTH CAROLINA This majestic 55-foot Norway spruce tree is in front of the Biltmore Estate and lit as guests make their way down the path of luminaries. With ornaments and miles of garland, this tree is selected for the Banquet Hall each year for guests from all over to see. Some are lucky enough to live near or in a city with a magnificent tree, but if you don’t, consider traveling to one of these locations to enjoy the holiday with your loved ones.
President Calvin Coolidge was the first president to light the National Christmas Tree in 1923. The tree was 48 feet high and decorated with
Handling the Daily Grind
HIRING EFFECTIVE MANAGERS
Few franchise owners can be onsite at their business all day, every day — and even fewer want to be. So, in addition to a team of reliable employees, you’ll also need someone to manage them when you can’t. Having managers work for you will allow you to delegate work schedules, customer complaints, and other routine tasks and focus on the bigger picture. But finding a person you can trust with your business is often easier said than done. When hiring managers for your franchise business, your first step should be to check your franchise agreement and reach out to your company contacts. Many franchises have requirements for management hires, so you need to know them in advance. Your franchise also may have resources like stock job descriptions, advertisements, and posters to use in your search. Next, consider whether your current staff may be suitable for promotion. Not every team member will have the experience, availability, or track record to make them manager material — but someone probably does. Hiring from within means less time training a new manager, and seeing a possible career path for themselves will boost employee morale and retention. External hires are sometimes necessary, but make sure you’re not overlooking existing talent.
Once you have an applicant pool, you’ll want to screen candidates for industry experience, prior management experience, and a customer service history. You may not find a candidate who ticks every box, so consider which qualifications are most important to you before you start scheduling interviews. Only interview applicants you would seriously consider hiring, or you’re wasting both their and your time. During the interview, ask your candidates behavioral questions reflecting their management style and decision-making. For example, responses to, “Tell me about a time you resolved a conflict between employees” and “Describe a time you turned a poor customer experience into a positive one” will tell you a great deal about the person you’re interviewing. But while you should focus on their answers, don’t forget to pay attention to how they deliver them. Is the candidate friendly and smiling, or do they avoid eye contact and mumble? Your managers will interact with employees and customers daily, so their personalities and communication skills matter. The perfect candidate will get along with your staff and command their attention and respect.
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