For those thinking about an occupation as a walking tour guide in the colorful city of Berlin, this is one of the best things to do. Dispersed among these attributes is the fact that its city of Berlin is one of the most historied, culturally arresting, and demographically avant-garde tourist destinations of the world. Below are the main skills that are important if one is to be an efficient tour guide while on the field.… Here, you will learn the abilities that every successful Berlin walking tour guide should possess.
1. In-depth Knowledge of Berlin
For a tour guide to be effective, the him/her should have proper knowledge about the esteemed place Berlin with emphasis of history and architecture. If you live in or will be visiting this city, you should find out about some of the major sites that include, the Brandenburg Gate, the Berlin Wall, Museum Island, and the Reichstag.
Spend time learning about Berlin historical background in the Second World War, the cold war period and the year of the fall of the Berlin Wall. I have found that the more information I have the better I am able to connect with my audience and answer the questions that are out there.
2. The candidates should have very good communication and interpersonal skills.
There should be good communication skills in this particular line of work as one is a walking walking tour guide. You will be communicate with people that belong to various cultures and age, thus you should avoid using ambiguous words. Introduce yourself to the habit of talking loudly and making sure you pronounce your words so your audience can understand you and make sure you use hand gestures while delivering your speech.
There is no harm in picking some public speaking or story writing classes to improve your particular type of the communication. The reason being, good storytelling techniques will keep the audiences fully engaged throughout the entire tour.
3. Flexibility and Adaptability
When on the field as a walking tour guide you have to work under certain conditions as they come. There are always conditions like rain, wind or storm, a close down of venues at the last minute, or a random question from a guest. Develop the flexibility to easily follow changes and modify the tour programme in favor of your guests’ comfort.
That explains why such events should always be planned for and one should always plan for an alternate route just in case. As you can see here, being prepared will not only help you stay professional, but will also ensure that you give the best first impression despite any issues which might arise.
4. Time Management Skills
A good example of such skills needed in the course of the performance of his/her duties is time management. See to it that you implement your schedule for your tour and see to it that you spend the right amount of time with your tour destination or spot. It is appropriate to share the information that will be useful and at the same time give time for your guests to move or take pictures.
This you should seek to observe the desires of your guests and adjust your tempo of serving to the same. Do not forget that people have different pace, so ensure you help keep everyone together while at the same time allow everyone ample time to explore what is of interest.
5. Social Skill/Interpersonal Skill and Empathy.
The best tour guide apprecates the value of developing a relationship and rapport with the guests. Develop people skills like listening, embracing other’s feelings, and being friendly. Habits of this nature shall also foster good impressions of your guests they are likely to encounter when they visit your organization.
Think about a conversation with a friend, and using questions, eye contact, and body language to get in touch with each person personally. It will also make the tour experience a unique one, and create a good lasting impression with your guests.
6. Cultural Sensitivity
Odors, loud noises, and even scowling locals irritate people of different cultural backgrounds, and to be a professional tour guide for the Berlin, it is important to have an open mind about the different cultures. Learn how people of different cultures greet each other, how they conduct business, and observe their body language, so that you will not offend them during your cultural tours.
Do not assume or stereotype and ensure that your guests accept the perspective as well as the wonders of Berlin Diversity. With an inviting climate being fostered, the tour experience of the community will be made a lot better for all members participating.
7. Problem-Solving Abilities
At times, something may crop up at the time you are undertaking your tours like transportation issues or even customers. This way you eliminate being tagged a panicker which is an aspect you do not want to harbor as a confident tour guide.
Maintain your cool at work and even during stressful conditions and situations informing your guests that you will try to sort out the problem. It is therefore wise to have the contacts of local authorities, transport and other attractions of interests in case of emergencies.
Through cultivating of these skills, you will be set to deliver incredible walking tours in Berlin. As always, repetition is the key to success so go practice those skills you’ve acquired and get to know more about this amazing city. No matter if you are showing tourists the attractions that every foreigner visiting Berlin must know or sharing one’s favorite off the beaten track spots, what you offer is definitely can make the difference in their trip.
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