Attitude · Attitude plays an important part in the daily life of a lodge manager. The following points must always be remembered: Your attitude at the beginning of a task will determine

– WildlifeCampus – Game Lodge Management Course

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Attitude

Attitude plays an important part in the daily life of a lodge manager.

The following points must always be remembered:

Your attitude at the beginning of a task will determine your success or failure.

It is your attitude towards life that will determine life’s attitude towards you.

You control your attitude. If you are negative, it is because of you, not because of

other people or circumstances.

Treat everybody as the most important person in the world and watch how your

life changes.

Module # 3 – Component # 1

Staff

©Wilderness Safaris




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Attitude is based on assumption. To change attitude, you must first change your

assumptions.

Develop the attitude that there are more reasons why you should succeed than

why you should fail.

In a crisis, adopt the attitude that “you can”, and solve it.

We become what we think. Radiate the attitude of confidence, of wellbeing, of a

person who knows where they are going.

Success or failure is caused more by mental attitude than mental capacity. To

develop a good attitude, take charge in the morning.

It is not what happens to you in life that is important, it is how you deal with it.

Always remember - working for your safari company breeds loyalty and commitment,

not just among senior staff, but junior staff as well. Interpersonal communications, the

visual impression made by you - that is your presence, along with the sound, tone and

authority of your voice, have far greater effects on others than the actual words.





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Staff relations

The biggest challenge is to motivate your staff in such a way as to get the best out of

them. Make them understand how important every one of their tasks is and that we

are all one team. The involvement of all staff is essential if you want to manage your

lodge properly. All staff should know minimum standards, policies and procedures and

aim towards maintaining them.

Influence the attitude of your staff and lead by example; through this, your guests will

feel positive towards you, your staff and the company. Staff like to feel important; they

like to get involved and they love recognition. Constantly give them positive strokes.

Look after your staff, teach them your skills and help develop the skills they have.

Delegate some of your responsibilities and see how they react to the challenge.





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Staffing recommendations

To manage a lodge to minimum standards we recommend the following:

All permanent staff must have valid employment contracts and management staff

must do a trauma/first aid course as soon as they start working.

20-bed lodge - 4 management staff minimum

16-bed lodge - 3 management staff minimum

10 beds or less - 3 management staff minimum (1 senior)

Your safari company may require all new staff to attend a training course at one of

their lodges and may well require them to see as many camps in the country as

possible before they start working. At no stage, should any temporary staff member be

left with the sole responsibility of a camp. All camps should receive at least 2 different

newspapers a week to read what is going on in the world. Relief managers must have

a minimum 2-day hand-over period with managers going on leave. For example, this

may mean that you go on leave on the 2nd or not before your month-end paperwork

is complete and be back in camp on the 29th to help with month-end.





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The following important issues could either motivate or de-motivate your staff:

Carry out regular training/coaching sessions.

Carry out regular performance appraisals, identifying areas for development and

training.

Make recommendations for salary increases for staff under your control.

Organise duty and leave rosters for all staff.

Select a strong compatible team, do not carry deadwood.





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Meetings

Every meeting must be minuted and sent to the relevant personnel at month-end.

They must contain:

The date

Who was present

Category

Comments

Have meetings with your general manager, assistant managers, guides and junior staff

as often as needed. A minimum of once a month with the general manager and

others twice a month.





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When you have a meeting, you must remember the following:

Try to keep the number of staff at a meeting to a minimum as they like to show off

in front of one another and give management headaches. Always have a

representative or staff spokesman present who will also interpret for those who do

not understand.

Make sure you know what the aim of the meeting is and try and stick to this subject.

Is the meeting the best way of achieving your aim?

Have an agenda. Limit items and write them down. Try to stick to your agenda.

Have start and finish times and stick to them.

Take minutes of the meeting and send them to the relevant personnel. Keep 1

copy for yourself.

Start on time, no matter who has not arrived. If the missing persons have a

responsibility for the first item, start with another.





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Prevent interruptions. Do not allow people to go off the subject. In other words,

you must be (or have) an effective chairperson in the meeting.

Use listening, summarizing and problem-solving techniques to achieve your aim.

Offer choices if possible.

Give recognition for achievements.

Do not let meetings last longer than what you planned.

Evaluate - Was your aim achieved?

Did everyone contribute?

Did we waste time?


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Attitude · Attitude plays an important part in the daily life of a lodge manager. The following points must always be remembered: Your attitude at the beginning of a task will determine