Making a Commentary

MAKING A COMMENTARY

Tour Guiding

21 January 2016

Basic Skills Needed Leadership SkillsTour Guides not only manage, they also lead. As leaders they take the initiative and engage their listeners in interactions toward the achievement of certain goals; Leadership is an important component in the existence, survival and function of tour conducting. The success of the tour is greatly dependent upon the quality and effectiveness of the tour.

Two Main Functions of a Leader1. The accomplishment of a task or

attainment of a goal;2. The strength of the group being led.These two functions are accomplished through the execution of certain tasks with the help and support of the members.

B. Communication Skills The skill of communication is hard work. It requires concentration. It is a skill that can be developed and an investment in yourself when practiced. Effective communication will only take place if the following processes has been applied:

• Communication starts with an idea in the sender’s mind

• The sender translates the idea into words and this becomes the message

• The receiver translates the message back into an idea.

Creating a Personal Platform Image1. Voice• Volume is critical. If people can’t hear you easily they will go

on vacation in their heads• Be Louder than softer- there is more space between your

mouth and the audience’s ears that your words have to travel.

• Keep your rate of speech quicker rather than slower, as people tend to process information mentally at a high rate of speed.

2. Eye Contact

• Greet the first people to arrive for the presentation and chat with them informally. Then make direct eye contact with them as you begin to speak. They will typically respond with the signals of recognition, a smile, a nod of the head.

• Actually see and read the faces of the audience members so they know you are not running on “ auto pilot”

• Look at different sectors of the audience, then find an individual face to focus on for a sentence or two; then move on.

3. Your Body Language• Be conscious of it; not overly so, but enough to

become more mindful of your effect.• Cultivate “ Power Moves”a. Good posture-back straight, head upb. Both feet on floor at shoulder widthc. Firm handshaked. “Relaxed” look-hands on hips or in pocket, but

not slouchinge. firm gestures, no fidgeting or hair twirling

Fake it till you make it• if confident body language doesn’t “feel

like you”, start with a small steps like holding your head high. You may find that the way you move begins to affect the way you feel-and they way the people respond you.

Your Audience Speech offers a benefit that writing

doesn’t, the ability to get immediate, visible feedback. In writing you take a chance that you might be misunderstood by your audience, so you have to cover more basis. In speaking, you can be more flexible. You can present a part of your story and change the course based on the feedback.

• Watch your audienceWhat is their body language? Are they making “agreement noises?” are you holding their attention?• Check in with your listener Does that make sense to you? Would you like to repeat that? Are you tracking me?• Be prepared to change course based on the

feedback you getLet me restate that. I can see you don’t agree with me.

Listening skills Listening is also an important aspect of

communication. Prior to the sending of the message, both the sender and the receiver practice listening skills.

Some tips for effective listening are:1. Use attentive body language.• Maintain eye contact and avoid visual

distraction.• Be aware of what your body language is

communicating about how interested and willing you are to listen.

• Observe the speaker’s non-verbal clues.• Listen with more than ears.

2. Learn to use your thinking time constructively.

• Keep your mind from wandering by asking yourself questions about what the speaker is telling you.

• Make mental notes that are relative to the discussion topic.

3. Became an observer – control your mouth.• It is impossible to speak and listen at the same

time.4. Listen with an open mind and avoid prejudice.• Avoid the tendency to resist ideas that are of

no personal interest to you.• Guard against the tendency to blank out or

skip over ideas which you would rather not hear.

5. Do not jump to conclusions.• Listen all the way through to ensure a

complete and accurate understanding of what is being said.

6. Let the speaker know that you hear and understand.• Give encouraging responses.• Paraphrase the speaker’s message to

share your understanding of what is being said.

• Reflect the feelings of the speaker, not just the words.

Research skillsTour commentaries are planned, structured and carefully studied information design to be the tool for the tour activity to be understood, appreciated and related to the actual sightseeing part of the tour itinerary.Knowledgeable tour guides usually supplement escorts at each destination. They must keep up all sorts of facts, including such title things as postage cost, tipping modes and practices, foreign exchange rates, the next day’ weather condition, minimum wage, educational system, security and peace and order situation, traditional traits of a place and people, interest rates, taxation, and many more things that the tourist will have an interest in .

NervousnessThe Book of list, in the category of phobias, list fear of public speaking as No.1 in the United States. In other words, you’re not alone. You can’t avoid feelings such as nervousness or fear; they just come. Your “core” brain perceives that it’s not safe out there. People might not like you. The good news is that you can manage those feelings. The only one in charge of your is YOU.

Guidelines1. Know your stuff.You control the content, so be familiar with it. See it as an outline of points to be covered. Rehearse.2. Know the place.Familiarize yourself with the surroundings so that your background will be a part of your comfort zone. Know where things are and who’s going to be there. Arrive early and chat with as many as you can beforehand.

3. Visualize success.Use your mind’s eye to see yourself standing or sitting confidently, everyone listening attentively and appreciatively. Extend this image by using your inner voice to affirm success: I am a skilled and capable person. I speak confidently in support of my personal and business goals.4. Breathe.Sometimes we forget. Breathe deeply and slowly, focusing only on your breath for a moments. Know that any form of resistance (holding your breath, fear of freeze, fear of rejection) is just a form of energy – the body’s natural reaction to stress. But is your energy. You’re the one in charge of it. Shift the energy, first by controlling your breathe. The rest of you will follow.

5. Focus out.What do I have to give or share? How can I make a difference? Think about why you are here and what you want to accomplish. 98% of your audience wants you to succeed.