Skifield staff look to other side

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 6, Issue 294, 11 July 1989, Page 3 (Supplement)

Skifield staff look to other side

Turoa's ski field staff, both seasonal and permanent, took part in a practice chairlift evacuation last Thursday. The exercise involved more than 100 staff and was the culmination of the 1989 ski season staff training week.

This year Turoa has extended their staff training, with aspects such as customer relations, safety and job training covered. Whakapapa also has an

extended staff training session at the start of the ski season, having extended their programme last year. Turoa staff split into

their respective departments to learn about their jobs, and to take part in training consultant Grant Amos' customer services course. Grant has run the courses at Turoa over a number of years, to get across to the staff the importance of good customer relations in the running of a ski field.

This year his course was divided into departmental group sessions to look at aspects of each area's needs in relation to good service. He said he tries not to be a "theoretical trainer" but to offer practical advice to staff. "We've looked at the various work situations and how to communi-

cate with the public," he said. "We try to get the staff to 'get on the other side of the

counter' and see each situation from the public point of view." He said many of Turoa's staff are qualified professional people, and/or people who have travelled and that they are looking for job enjoyment in working on a ski field. "They're interested in what's taking place in their job," he said.

Grant Amos is a staff trainer for Air New Zealand cabin crews, he runs 'fear of flying

courses' as well as staff training for a number of New Zealand companies.