Tourism Leadership Essentials 7-Week Program | Applications Open Until April 8
April 12 – May 26, 2022
Tuesdays and Thursdays, 6 PM - 8 PM
Application Deadline: April 8, 2022
The Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA) is partnering with Okanagan College to offer the Tourism Leadership Essentials Program for Thompson Okanagan tourism professionals, free of charge through the Thompson Okanagan Tourism Resiliency Program, part of the BC Tourism Resiliency Network.
The seven-part series consists of 2-hour online workshops, twice a week for seven weeks with Okanagan College tourism professors. Each part focuses on specific leadership skills required in today’s multi-faceted workplaces.
Participants will discover their leadership style, develop management skills, learn about teams, engagement, communication, conflict resolution, and goal setting.
The program is meant to develop skills for both aspiring leaders and seasoned veterans, with insights and tangible strategies that can be applied immediately in the workplace.
Availability is limited. While priority will be given to professionals currently employed in the Thompson Okanagan tourism industry, other professionals may be eligible.
Application Details
Applications are now closed. If you wish to be informed of future leadership training opportunities, complete the following form:
Schedule & Topics
Each week of the Tourism Leadership Essentials Program will include two instructor-led virtual sessions, plus two hours of independent work covering the followings topics:
Week 1: April 12 & 14 | Leading Workplace Teams
Learn about the skills and tools effective leaders require, how personal values impact leadership, as well as how to develop realistic visions, manage change and promote innovation.
Week 2: April 19 & 21 | Engaging Your Workforce
A highly engaged workforce results in less turnover, better customer service and increased profits. Gain strategies for engaging and motivating employees to foster new ideas and identify solutions in the workplace. Learn about motivation, teamwork, and the stages of teamwork.
Week 3: April 26 & 28 | Communicating Beyond the Basics
Communication is a key component in successful workplaces. Learn how to build respectful and productive relationships with staff and customers. Learn how you communicate, the challenges in communicating effectively, and how to improve your listening skills. Develop a methodology to plan for change.
Week 4: May 3 & 5 | Managing Conflict
Conflicts arise in all workplaces and it’s up to leaders to manage them. Response to conflict defines the result. See the connections between responses and actions and then identify shifts to build better relationships. Gain strategies for dealing with difficult people, having difficult conversations, and providing meaningful feedback.
Week 5: May 10 & 12 | Goal Setting and Time Management
Gain a methodology to tie all objectives and aspirations into a planned approach, matched with resources and timelines to meet goals. Learn how to use time effectively to keep feeling motivated and prevent feelings of overwhelm. The planning and goal setting strategies provided in this course ensure time invested results in solid and measurable results.
Week 6: May 17 & 19 | Change Management
Change is inevitable and not always easy. Learn to lead during times of change by gaining knowledge, skills and strategies that lead to successful change management. Explore reasons for change and factors that influence this process, as well as the impact of change on innovation.
Week 7: May 24 & 26 | Coaching & Developing Employees
Coaching employees builds stronger relationships between managers and their team members. Through coaching, employees are supported in developing the skills they require to reach organizational goals and strategic objectives. This course provides learners with strategies they can use to ensure their employees are engaged in their own personal growth resulting in a positive impact on the organization.