Read & React #3: Management Networking Experiences

The quote, “nothing worth having is easy to obtain” is a quote that we can all relate to in different aspects of our life. I`ve learned that to become a manager in Walt Disney World, it takes more than just effort. It takes creativity, leadership, motivation, and the willingness to succeed. At Caribbean Beach Resort I have had the opportunity to trail my manager, complete management tasks, and understand what is needed to enter a management position here at Walt Disney World. Also, after reading the article, Mistakes to Avoid by Newly Promoted Manager, I’ve realized there’s more to being a manager than what it looks like.

So far, throughout my program, I have been able to network with many students from different parts of the world and with management personnel as well. As a future leader of the workforce, networking is a vital component to our success. That is because the more resources we have available in the future as managers, will be the excess amount of resources we can provide our employees and customers with, as they need them. One of the networks I have made is an intelligent and innovative student from the University of Madrid who aspires to create his very own online travel agency. He is in the process of developing his website and it is set to launch this very summer of 2017 as he successfully completes his program. I have also networked with the executive housekeeping director of Caribbean Beach Resort, who is also a professor and teaches hospitality at Valencia Community College. She is unquestionably knowledgeable in the hospitality industry and it very passionate about it; she has also worked for the company for over twenty years. She is an important network to have, and one that can help develop my skills for a future role as a manager.

Networking is essential for my development as a future leader of the workforce. However, I have also had the opportunity to trail my manager as she completes some of her daily tasks. I have trailed her as she inspects rooms and also as she checks the status of each housekeeper in regards to how many rooms they have done and have left. When watching her inspect the rooms after a housekeeper has done it is very interesting. I get to see how high Disney has its standards for rooms and how detailed it can be. As she enters a room, the first thing she looks at, are the water glasses in the room. There are four in a double-bed room and two in a single bedroom.  She grabs them gently one by one and raises them against the light to make sure they are squeaky clean. Then she rubs her hands through each piece of furniture to look for dust. It is a very detailed inspection and I am delighted I am able to learn what it takes. I also get to see her looking through her assigned housekeepers and their progress through the day. Depending on the progress of the housekeepers if one is a bit delayed she can send someone who is ahead and help out.

After the wonderful opportunity of trailing my manager, she sent me on my own management task a week later. After I was finished with all my rooms for the day she asked that I went and inspected a room for her. I was thrilled when she asked me to do so and didn’t hesitate to get to it right away. I immediately went to the room and did what I saw her do when I trailed her. I looked for dust, checked the glassware, made sure the beds were good and fixed some minor details. I then called her to notify her that the room was vacant clean. Being asked to complete that task was an honor, and doing it felt even better. It helped me understand some of the skills needed to enter a management position with Walt Disney World in the resorts.

When I read the article, Mistakes to Avoid by Newly Promoted Manager, I learned something very important that I could relate to what I have learned in Disney. That is, do not jump into making changes first, but instead be an observer. Everyone has their own way of doing their job and you have to learn what really works and what doesn’t before you try to make any changes. The Disney College Program has brought me many opportunities that will help develop my managerial skills in the future. The networking I have done is amazing. The opportunities I’ve had to trail my manager have been very educational, and completing management tasks has been a wonderful experience.