There should be a tour group leader at each visit? That seems like a pointless question, but I am often asked this question, especially when international travel guide with our tour group’ Why two? Traveling? While having a guide and a local guide may seem redundant, each has different responsibilities’ The local guide knows the language, history, attractions, and often manages the calendar’ The guide works with the local guide to manage the flow of travel, but spends most of his attention to the management of group dynamics’
I know from personal experience that when a group of people (most of whom do not know each other) meet for a period of time, conflicts can arise if not managed personalities’ The strong personality wish to drive, the removal of uncertainty, it is necessary to pay attention seeking egocentric direction and ignore the others’ Imagine you are traveling with a group where these figures are not Gerês’ The end result could be a disaster’
Hazel Warlaumont, professor of communication at Cal State Fullerton and the University of Washington, wrote an article on the topic of group dynamics on group travel’ She said:? With good time, [head], the tensions can be mitigated or even prevented by effective leadership and develop a protocol for travel’ In most cases, this occurs immediately, allowing the group to go ”’ the emergence of the later stage when members begin to feel the harmony’ Potential problems with the disapproval of detection decreased and the productivity of their behavior or attitudes, group leader at the final stage or reinforcement’ At this point, the group members to strengthen through experience and the positive reaction of positive reinforcement’ The spirit of unity and pervades the group members are jovial and focused on the purpose of travel and travel experience’
Management of group dynamics in a positive direction was the determining factor between a great leader and an only an hour on average’ A journey that is trained to handle the group dynamics provides a strong personality in the group not to try to lead the visit, while in view of their need for independence is respected’ The behavior of travelers who are regularly late is processed quickly and early in the trip, travelers may need to be taken under the wing of the group’s leader, and the uncertainty of trust can be given by the example of the group’s leader’ A well-trained guides who understand the group dynamics can make the difference between a miserable travel experience or experience to remember with emotion of his life’
Warlaumont as a teacher, a good guide can quickly gather a group and create a harmonious environment where everyone can have an enjoyable experience’
So next time you take a turn, discuss the role of educational travel plays in the success of your trip’