Essays

Cornell University at Ithaca New York
NATALY SINT JAGO – CHTAEF / Starwood Scholar 2009

Introduction
With some motivation through managers at Avila Hotel and my ambitions to enlarge my knowledge in the hospitality, I started searching on the website of CHTA EF about scholarship. As several colleague of Avila Hotel went to Cornell University in the past, I decided to actually search the website for other hotel school universities who are on your list as well. I need to say that the information that I gained on web site of Cornell University about the several PDP summer courses was impeccable. It was so clear and friendly that this was the impact for my final decision in choosing the courses that most interested me.

My name is Nataly Sint Jago and after hard work and effort I was granted a scholarship by the CHTA Education Foundation & Starwood to follow a course in Hotel Management. I am very proud of what I accomplished and was even more proud when I was nominated for Employee of the Year of the Caribbean. This seemed unbelievable to me and I never expected to win the award. However when I was chosen, it was the best feeling in the world because I knew I put a lot of hard work and effort into my work.

Leading and Motivating in the real world
Teacher and class information
This course was given through Professor Bob Perry who is president of a management consulting firm specializing in the field of Human Resources Management. He has a calm, sympathetic, self confident and professional personality. With this attitude I really had no doubt that I would feel at home.

We were a group of 16 participants from several countries like Germany, Holland, Switzerland, Netherlands Antilles, Tunisia, Russia, USA and United Kingdom.

Two weeks prior to the class, I had received a pre-course assignment through the internet. This assignment consisted out of several reading materials which would serve as a preparation for the course.

The classes started from 08.30 till 17.00 every day including some breaks such as lunch break. At the beginning of the class the professor assigned everyone to a specific group. These groups would then work together during the breaks on assignments that were given during class.

Our first group assignment was to choose 5 top motivational factors from a list of 20. These factors would show what would most motivate my associates. Our second assignment was a personal task by making a Life Style Inventory.

Why Leading and Motivating in the real world?
On the job I am working between the employers of my team and colleagues of other departments. During this time I experience many character differences and attitudes of the people I work with. Sometimes this can be positive and/or negative features.
I have also come to realize that besides the daily work pressure, all employers need to balance their own personal life. Long working hours and demanding customers can result in unhappiness and impatience on the work floor.

At the moment this new century is going through a lot of changes in the globalizations. Many of young people are trying to make their entrance in the hospitality industry.

To be sure that this new generation will be successful in their carrier and not to mention keeping the employers on a high level, some new extra knowledge about leading and motivating is required.

With all of the above being said I started this course with an open minded to gain more knowledge. My goal was to learn and get the tools how to become a better leader. I believe by investing in yourself through knowledge, we can further invest in others. Helping each other to become the best we can be.

Points I learned throughout the course are:
• Determining the type of service the guest expect and relative weightings
• Setting goals on guest expectations
• Empowering and inspiring employees to reach the organization’s objectives
• Identify deficiencies, in those areas where service falls bellows guest expectations.
• How to use good judgment in all situations
• The 3 most important measurements for any organization
• Encouraging risk taking and learning how to handle mistakes made in the best way possible.
• Positive reinforcement
• Learning the key factors on how to motivate associates and my boss
• Turning around negative attitudes

Since I have followed this course, I have already pinpointed ways to positively influence my current work situation. I plan start using several of the above mentioned points stated above. By starting to empower and inspire employees a bit more, I can help them reach some of the organization’s objectives. I also believe that by teaching them the 3 most important measurements are for any organization and encourage them to take more risk, I can help to make needed changes in the Avila Hotel.

Becoming a good Leader is first finding yourself, becoming the maker of your life and knowing what you want to achieve. By making a Life Style Inventory, it will already help you in determining how you are.
By underlying the passion for the promises of life, combined with particular passion for my profession and creating an environment with integrity and trust in the team, I will do my utmost to become a good Leader.

My grateful thanks to the CHTA Education Foundation and Starwood for supporting my
education to realize my dreams.


Written by
Nataly Sint Jago

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