New CHART App is Available for Download! We dove into using the new CHART App for our recent conference in Austin, where users enjoyed easy access to all things CHART. This is a convenient way for you to connect with your peers in the CHART community and share with other hospitality training pros. App features:
• News Feed of current member postings • Job Board postings • Conference details and forums • Easy access to training resources
• Idea sharing through Ask My Peers • Updated events like Webinars and Regional Training Forums • Marketplace of member-recommended solutions
PresidenTalks We’re Back! Conversations of Culture, Collaboration, and Camaraderie
As I walked into the recent CHART conference in Austin, I couldn’t help but notice a different feeling in the air. It wasn’t the 102-degree weather or the smell of Texas BBQ – I looked at a fellow CHART Board member and said, “It feels like we are back!” While the struggle in our industry is (still) real and CHART has had two in person conferences since “the virus that won’t be named,” something felt different. I quickly realized it was the conversations. Conversations shifted from themes like cleanliness to culture, recruitment to retention, and why we can’t to how we can. It felt like as trainers we are back to focusing on driving learning, engagement, change, inclusion, and fun as part of our brand strategies vs. being in crisis mode, and it was a good feeling. The learnings from the stage at the Austin Conference pointed in the same direction. As I looked back at my notes, they all pointed to a theme of collaboration and collective brain power. While my notes could go on and on, here are a few highlights that really resonated with me:
Rachel Richal
“People will tolerate the conclusions of others, but they will act on their own.” – Lanier Zimmer, from Root, taught us the framework to rapidly drive change while focusing on delivering a high-quality experience for our team members. The equation of “visualization + discovery learning + interactivity = engagement” taps into the needs of emotional, intellectual, behavioral, and social elements to drive change. She said it best with the analogy, “People don’t binge-watch TV starting with the last episode. They like to go on the whole journey from S:1, E:1.”
“Ta-Da!” – Joel Zeff taught us the spirit of Ta-Da reinforcing that fun and celebration are necessary ingredients for a productive workplace. He first-handedly taught us a key lesson using improvisation – anything is possible. “The game allows you to make mistakes. The only thing you can’t do is quit. If you stay in the game, the guarantee is success. It might not be tomorrow, but you will find success… To stay in the game, you may have to learn something new, work harder, try a different way or get out of your comfort zone. It’s hard. Staying in the game is also rewarding.” “BEAUTIFUL CHAOS. Get CREATIVE!” – Jamie Murdock and Jennifer O’Grady taught us what happens when learning and networking combine to solve challenges using the Hackathon approach to problem solving. In step two of the approach, everyone comes up with as many questions as possible about the problem they are trying to solve followed by a share-out of the questions. The next set of rules is one we should all carry with us when collaborating to problem solve… “Only share questions/no answers, no explanations that may bias the listener, do not actually answer the questions, LISTEN and write down the questions.” These tips help open your mind to problem solving.
Watching the Hackathon wrap up, I experienced one of my favorite moments ever at a CHART conference. I realized every single conference attendee was up on the main stage sharing ideas. Magic happens when you get 200 hospitality trainers in a room collaborating, and you could feel the energy in the room. Words like collaborate, engage, support, togetherness and celebration flowed from the stage, and it became the cherry on top to feeling like we are back. It is an honor to serve my final year on the CHART board as your President as we use these words to inspire our commitment to this incredible association and the development of people in our industry!
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