Teamwork
Teamwork is important in itself and is also the best way to develop leadership qualities. At EHL we are so convinced of the value of group work that student teams are coached and guided in how to work successfully together. Coaching will help you learn to listen to others – and also to be attentive to what they are not saying. You will see when teams work, and when they don’t.
Teamwork and the workplace
In the workplace currently, there is a tendency to move away from top-down decision making and to give more responsibility down the line. At the same time, companies are relying more and more on work done by self-directed work groups. Here at EHL we put an emphasis on teamwork and require a large number of projects to be carried out in teams, with the result that students leaving the school have had considerable experience in this field and are thus better prepared for their future employment. Companies who come on campus to recruit EHL students say that they particularly appreciate their flexibility and their ability to work in teams.
Skills developed by group work
Skills developed by group work include analytical and cognitive skills, collaborative skills such as conflict management, flexibility, negotiation and compromise, organization and time management skills, problem solving...The fact that the school is multi-cultural (and multi-lingual) adds an extra challenge. Different values, often linked with the cultural aspect, can be another source of conflict. What better way to learn leadership skills for hospitality?
EHL's teambuilding coach
At EHL our coach works with students from the very beginning and through their experience of different groups over several terms. Students are assigned to groups - mirroring the workplace, where they will not be able to choose their co-workers - and the groups are regularly changed to give them plenty of experience of group dynamics.
Frustrations... and satisfaction
While working on projects, students learn at the same time to evaluate their own behaviour within the group to understand whether it contributes or not to the task in hand. Group work can be a source of anything from great satisfaction (professional and personal) and pleasure, to a situation causing extreme frustration, disappointment and even anger. Very often it is the "natural leaders" who experience the most frustration - and as at EHL most students have leadership qualities, there is a lot to learn!
Whatever the outcome, the individual student receives a very valuable learning experience and most report that they are pleased with their group work.
