This document provides guidance for tour guides on developing key skills needed for the job, including leadership, communication, research, and managing nervousness when speaking publicly. It discusses leadership skills, the two main functions of a leader as accomplishing tasks and strengthening the group. Effective communication requires concentrating on translating ideas into clear messages that receivers can understand. Research skills involve supplementing tours with extensive knowledge on various topics relevant to destinations. The document provides tips for managing nervousness when speaking publicly, such as preparing thoroughly, visualizing success, controlling one's breathing, and focusing on the value being provided to the audience.

1. MAKING A COMMENTARY
Tour Guiding
21 January 2016

2. Basic Skills Needed
 Leadership Skills
Tour 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.

3. Two Main Functions of a Leader
1. 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.

4. 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:

5. • 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.

6. Creating a Personal Platform
Image
1. 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.

7. 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.

8. 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 up
b. Both feet on floor at shoulder width
c. Firm handshake
d. “Relaxed” look-hands on hips or in pocket, but
not slouching
e. firm gestures, no fidgeting or hair twirling

9. 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.

10. 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.

11. • Watch your audience
What 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 get
Let me restate that. I can see you don’t agree with
me.

12. 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.

13. 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.

14. 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.

15. 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.

16. 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.

17. Research skills
Tour 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 .

18. Nervousness
The 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.

19. Guidelines
1. 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.

20. 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.

21. 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.