Employability Skills Report: Evaluating Travelodge's Employability

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of employability skills, focusing on their application within the context of Travelodge. It begins with an introduction to employability skills and their significance in the workplace, followed by an examination of the manager's roles and responsibilities at Travelodge, including the development of performance objectives and evaluation of effectiveness. The report then delves into the development of interpersonal and transferable skills, exploring effective communication, time management, and motivational techniques based on Maslow's hierarchy of needs. Furthermore, it addresses problem-solving strategies, team dynamics, and alternative approaches to task completion, specifically within the Travelodge environment. The report concludes with an evaluation of tools and methods for addressing problems like labor turnover, proposing strategies for improvement and assessing their potential impact on the business.

EMPLOYABILITY
SKILLS

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
P1.1 – Development of a set of own responsibilities and performance objectives................1
P1.2 – Evaluation of own effectiveness against defined objectives.......................................2
P1.3 Make recommendations for improvement.....................................................................2
P1.4 Review how motivational techniques can be used to improve quality of performance.3
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................4
P2.1. Developing solutions to work-based problems.............................................................4
P2.2 Communication in a variety of styles and appropriate manner at various levels...........5
P2.3. Identifying effective time-management strategies........................................................6
TASK 3............................................................................................................................................7
P3.1- Explain the roles people play in a team and how they can work together to achieve
shared goals............................................................................................................................7
3.2 Analysing the team dynamics...........................................................................................8
P3.3 Alternative ways to complete tasks and achieve team goals..........................................9
TASK 4..........................................................................................................................................10
P4.1 Evaluate tools and methods for developing solutions to problems with reference to
Travelodge Hotel..................................................................................................................10
4.2 An appropriate strategy for resolving the problem of labour turnover..........................11
4.3 The potential impact on the business of implementing the strategy..............................11
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................12
REFERENCES .............................................................................................................................13

INTRODUCTION
Employability skills refers to set of operations which is required to perform at work place
(Adnan and et. al., 2017). This helps to perform operations in effective and relevant manner.
Environment is dynamic, it is relevant to make changes in personal skills, so business operations
can performed in relevant and significant manner. This report is based on Travelodge which is
private organisation which deals in hospitality industry. The purpose of the report is to the
provides individual with opportunity to acquire honed employability
skills required for effective employment. In this report, there is discussion about determination
of own responsibilities and performance, development of interpersonal and transferable skills,
understanding the dynamics of working style with others, development of strategies for problem
strategies. It also include the various tools and methods of developing solution to the problems
and evaluation of potential impacts.
TASK 1
P1.1 – Development of a set of own responsibilities and performance objectives.
The manager is the backbone of any business because it has some specific set of roles and
responsibilities which are necessary for the success of a business. In case of Travelodge the
responsibilities and performance objectives are stated as below:
Responsibilities: There are some roles and responsibilities of a manager at Travelodge
which are explained below:
Develop ability to learn in workforce: This is an specific responsibility of a manager at
Travelodge. Since the company operates its business in hospitality business therefore it is
necessary for the managers to take care of their customers satisfaction. For doing this, a manager
have to develop the ability in their workforce to learn new from everything so that they can able
to provide satisfactory services to their customers.
Ethics: Ethics are the basic set of rules as well as regulations which are related to moral
principles and are necessary for the upliftment of an employee (Asonitou, 2015). Being a
manager of Travelodge it is my responsibility to conduct a ethical behaviour among the
organizations staffs. These ethical decision making such as no biases would take place while
taking any decision for employees and organisation as well.
Performance Objectives: Following described are the some of performance objectives:
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 To build effective communication within workplace: Being a manager, it is my
responsibility to build effective communication within workplace for further reduction of
conflicts and issue of labour turnover. Through this, I can easily analyse issues and
problems of my employees that assist me to resolving work base problems easily.
 Time management practices: This is a required approach for me that assist in
enchaining performance objectives of my own. In hospitality industry, time management
aspects is required that influence customers satisfaction in direct and indirect manner.
Along with this, time management approach will also contributing in properly completing
the tasks and to take effective decisions for Travelodge.
All the above measures will be beneficial for me to set my objectives, responsibilities and
determine my strengths and weaknesses.
P1.2 – Evaluation of own effectiveness against defined objectives.
As per the above objectives, the effectiveness of the manager against defined objectives
are stated as below:
Effective communication: Although the communication skill of manager should be
good and it is found that it communicates with its employees good (Cottrell, 2015). An effective
communication has been classify in two different aspects as written and verbal. For an manager
both these elements requires to be based on their professional working practices. Being a
manager, I analysed that my formal written communication approach is much effective then
verbal. The effectiveness of these aspects has been identified through presentation of upcoming
projects and further formal practices that aid me to get desired outcomes properly. In terms of
verbal communication, I requires to make improvement so that I can resolve organisational
issues.
Time management: Time management is a most important aspects that assist in
managing organisational activities in proper manner. For me it is required to consider such
practices in my working practices. I always manage my working schedule properly as I am fully
focused towards my professional responsibilities. But somehow, I analysed that my decision and
problems solving practices takes time that affect negatively towards my working responsibilities.
As from the above analysis I analysed that I can effectively manage my professional
working practices but of the aspects are requires to improve that helps me in attaining desired
outcomes.
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P1.3 Make recommendations for improvement
On the basis of set professional objectives, I analysed that I need to work on some of my
working practices that helps me in attaining my set goals properly.
 In the context of effective communication I requires to work on my verbal communicator
that assist me analysing issues and problems of employees by consulting them.
 Ineffective verbal communications can affect coordination practices at workplaces as
well as can create issue of staff turnover who had numerous issues in terms of
organisational culture and so on. Thus, for this I needs to stretch my capability regard
verbal communication by attaining seminar and conferences.
 In terms of time management approaches, I requires to work on decision making process
by taking on the spot decision by analysing proper situations. In this regard, it is also
requires to identify perspective and view points of each individual.
P1.4 Review how motivational techniques can be used to improve quality of performance
Motivation is the detailed technique where person is used to be encouraged and reward to
enhance the stimuli of an employee. This basically helps to raise the performance expectancy of
an employee to get quality outcomes and results. In context with Travelodge, motivation needs to
be taken in serious and utilized manner. Motivation is enriched with Maslow theory of needs,
which has total five different needs to be demanded by any employee. Basic needs such as food,
water, shelter, clothing, support are considered under this theory:
Maslow theory of need hierarchy: Maslow has stated that people are meant to achieve
certain needs and that needs take precedence over others (Ito and Kawazoe, 2015). The theory of
maslow needs hierarchy explains the needs of a employee in a specific hierarchy. Hence, theory
is completely explained over this context. The theory is classified into the five different types of
needs are as follows:
Physiological needs: These are some biological needs for the human survival. This basic
requirements are useful for human being to work, live and enjoy. For example: Air, food, drink,
shelter, clothing, sleep etc. It is necessary to food to eat and water to drink for survival purpose.
As these techniques are essential for every human being so that if any individual get their
essentials on the time and in appropriate manner then it will motivate him.
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Safety needs: Those needs who belongs to safety and security of a particular person. It
involves security in the personal life, employment or any profession. For example: protection
from elements, security, order, law, stability and freedom from fear. It will motivate employee
because if he get proper security in his life then he motivated by safer environment.
Social needs: Those needs which provides the social benefits an support to particular
person. The major aim is to understand their motivation connected with social benefits such as
love, affection, care, belongingness and friendship etc.. In terms of employees, it is required for
manager to provide them friendly atmosphere in which they can work productively and sustain in
the organisation for a long duration.
Self-Esteem needs: Esteem needs are of two types which are internal esteem needs such
as self-respect, confidence, compurgent-important matrixetence, achievement and freedom and
external esteem needs such as recognition, power, status, attention and admiration. In the
respects of Travelodge it is required that seniors admire thoughts and view point of employees
in order to enhance their confidence towards business decision makings. These are the required
aspects that affect directly affect employees productivity and their performance as well.
Self-actualization needs: This include the urge to become what you are capable of along
with what you potential you have the potential to become in the life (Jackling and Natoli, 2015).
It includes the need for growth and self-contentment. It also includes the desire for gaining
knowledge, social service, creativity and being aesthetic. For example: self-awareness, personal
growth, confidence, career etc.. Thus, in Travelodge it is the responsibility of seniors authorities
to conducts training and learning sessions for their employees that helps in maximising their
skills and capabilities properly.
In context with Travelodge, Maslow has defined needs to understand the stimuli
connected to employee's need and wants. It is helpful to motivate both manager and employee at
the greater and optimized level. The positive impact of the Maslow theory is that, it would help
to get motivated and raise their confidence at the bigger level.
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TASK 2
P2.1. Developing solutions to work-based problems
organisation faces different types of problems at their work place. This would lead to
conflict among the employees and would lead to growth of Travelodge Hotel. Problems at the
respective organisation is discussed below-
Problems- Travelodge hotel faces problem of high employee turnover due to the
inappropriate delegation of roles and responsibilities at the work place and also because of the
lack of communication between employees and management.
Solution- Above described problem will affect the growth of employees as well as the
organisation both. Being an HR manger, I analysed this problem as a common work place issue
for which effective decisions has to be taken in order to increase the productivity of the
employee. In order to avoid such problem effective training sessions should be provided to the
employee in order to enhance their skills and capabilities. This would help them to increase the
employees productivity at Travelodge. Along with this use of proper communication process will
lead healthy and friendly atmosphere in the organisation and decreases employees turnover at
Travelodge.
Problem- Another problem addressed at Travelodge was excessive workloads on the
employees to meet customer demands.
Solution- Being an HR manager, this problem can be addressed by proper hiring and selecting
the suitable employees at the respective organisation. Moreover employees should be assigned
task according to their skills and capability as well as employees should be made allow to work
in different shifts such as day shifts, night shifts which will reduce he workload as well as
maintain work life balance in Travelodge.
When problem arises in the Travelodge manger should identify the problem considering
various steps-
Problem analysis- It is the considered as the first step in which manager analyse the
issues causing the problem at the work place. Problem could be related to high employee
turnover as well as inappropriate training and communication gaps in the respective organisation.
Analysing changes at work placements- Above mentioned points are creating problems
in the effective performance at Travelodge. This is causing problem to the organisation as
because of which sales and profitability is decreasing , In order to avoid such problems managers
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should make recent changes at the work place or provide solutions in order to overcome such
problems (Messum, Wilkes and Jackson, 2015).
Generating and choosing solutions- As a manager I will conduct meeting of employees
on regular basis and taking feedbacks from them in order order to evaluate their performance. As
manager I will provide best possible solutions in order to overcome the problems.
P2.2 Communication in a variety of styles and appropriate manner at various levels
Communication plays an important role in the development of an organization, it have
some specific types/varieties (Five Types of Communication, 2019). In case of Travelodge the
role of communication is important because customers who are visiting the premise of hotel
needs to have a humble and proper communication which is necessary for their assistance. There
are different styles and manner through which communication is done which are explained here
below:
Verbal Communication: It is type of communication in which people communicate
through their voice, sound pitch etc. (O’Connor and Bodicoat, 2017) Basically, audio language is
necessary for the communication of two person. In case of Travelodge, the company should use
this type of communication because the personnel aspect are shown by the communicator which
help the customer to attract towards the business of organization. This type of communication is
done at the level, where employees are working together on a single project.
Non-Verbal Communication: It is a type of communication in which sign language ois
used. The gesture, body language, facial expression etc. are counted in the way of non-verbal
communication. This type of communication is necessary for the formal meeting and
communication with the customers and among the staff, because it will more impressive than
simple oral communication. This communication strategy helps the communicator to develop its
personal aspects such as gesture, body language etc. which can take its career to a peak. To
develop this type of communication skill a training session should be there by the company so
that employees will be able to communicate with effectiveness. This is a formal type of
communication which is done at the level of formal communicator such as manager leader etc.
Team meetings- Proper gathering can be conducted by the managers of Travelodge
Hotel in order to know the problems and issues which are being faced by the workers. Along
with this it also assist employees in interacting with with manager and maintaining effective
relationships.
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Interpersonal skills- These are considered as those skills which are required for
communicating with each other in a effective way. Thus, employees who are working in
Travelodge Hotel are required to have these skills and some of them are described below-
Personal effectiveness- It defines as such skills that are related to individual in relation
to its strengths, knowledge and proper utilisation of resources. This shows the effectiveness of
employees at Travelodge.
Working with others- In hospitality sector it is essential that working in teams to
achieve common goals. For this, respective organisation should use proper techniques to achieve
best outcomes.
Formal letter to senior management of the hotel to inform them about the work base
problem
To,
Senior Manager
Travelodge Hotel, London
18 feb, 2019
Respected Sir,
Being a manager, I have determined that Travelodge hotel is having two main issues
which are employee turnover, ineffective communication as well as the excessive
workloads on the employees. These issues are affecting the employees performance
and profitability of the business. So in order to improve, it has been analysed that
proper training sessions can be provided to the workforce. Along with this employees
performance should also be measured within regular time intervals. Moreover manager
should develop effective communication methods in order to improve effective
relationships at the work place.
Yours sincerely
Mary
Memo to all staffs
To
All the staffs
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Travelodge hotel
This is to inform you all that there was a face to face discussion session for all the
employess with their superiors. There you all can discuss your problems with senior
managment. And training session also be organized by the organization's management
to enhance your capabilities and skills. So please all of you reach in the conference hall
of the organization on Monday at 11 O'clock am.
Regards
Travelodge Management
P2.3. Identifying effective time-management strategies
Time management is an important aspect at Travelodge. It is therefore important
for every company to create a proper balance of time to complete the task allocated. When the
employees at the respective organisation completes its task within specified time period, it
enables organisation to achieve organisational goals. Their are various time management
strategies which is being adopted by Travelodge is discussed below-
Prioritising workload of employees- An effective way for time management is to
prioritise workload of employees. Managers of Travelodge should ensure to all the employees
that they should review all the task assigned to them as well as organise them according to their
level of importance. This will help the employees to properly complete their work as well as
increase their efficiency (Ravens, croft and Luhanga, 2015).
Setting work objectives- Work objectives describe the results expected from the
employees during the year. Typically objectives are related to budgets, deadlines and accuracy as
well the quality of work. This helps the employees at Travelodge to understand what is expected
from them and provides a way for employees of self measuring their performance.
Making and keeping appointments- Keeping a daily record of activities and upcoming
appointments are crucial as it guides an individual about the activities that are to be done on prior
basis.
Working steadily rather than erratically- Employees in the respective organisation
should work steadily according to the given roles and responsibilities, This helps them to focus
on their work as well as completes the allotted task on time.
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Time or learning- Employees should also make time for learning while performing their
job. They should enhance their skills and capabilities while performing their job. This allows
them to perform their future task on time and achieve productivity in its performance
Reliable estimate of task time- Employees at Travelodge should allocate time for each
activity. This enables them to perform task efficiently and within the specified time period.
By the adoption of such strategies it helps the workforce within the Travelodge to complete the
task within specified time period as well as achieve organisational goals.
TASK 3
P3.1- Explain the roles people play in a team and how they can work together to achieve shared
goals
Teams are important for every business organization to attain set goals and objectives in
allotted time frame. In order to attaining the same, Travelodge Hotel focus on the developing
team by providing better guidance to their team members. Manager shared goal to reduce
unhealthy competition among employees in order to reducing issues of staff turnover. With the
help of this, team members can easily perform their best and attain predetermined goals. In this,
company use Belbin team theory in which all the team members work together with the aim of
attaining shared goals and objectives. This can be understood by following points-
Action oriented roles: To complete the task or achieving goals that role is very
important. They are the one of who present the challenging tasks before other employees by
conducting market survey (Simatele2015). These persons are called marketing specialist. This is
the person who is hired to conduct a market research so that effective strategies can be made by
the company to attract more customers to their door. Proper solutions are inducted by the
specialist with the help of thorough market research and provide relevant information which is
necessary for the solution of problems found in Travelodge.
People oriented: Team manager plays the people oriented roles. The manager of the
team has the responsibility of managing the resources, tasks, funds etc. so that tasks can be done
effectively. The team manager has the main aim of deciding the roles and responsibilities of
employees working in the team. This type of person is hired because it has a knowledge of
managing properly different resources of company. It has the skills and knowledge of managing
the work to be completed within time (Spence and Hyams-Ssekasi, 2015).
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Thought oriented roles: That type of role is played by a specialist person who have
knowledge of and some specific ideas to complete tasks. The organization hire a coordinator for
completing these type of roles. Coordination is one of the important key aspect of achieving the
targets of organization. This type of person is hired by the company because it has a good
knowledge of coordinating within the employees so that they can work together to achieve the
target set by Travelodge.
3.2 Analysing the team dynamics
Team dynamics is an external force which is implemented over team to make them
specific over a task so that their behaviour and performance will favour the task given to the
team (Trought, 2017). Team and group are two different aspects, Team is a special group of
persons in whom the shared goal is common thing. On the other hand, group is social community
which have some commonalities.
A team cannot do better when they are formed, to make them efficient a model of Bruce
Tuck man is implemented which explain the importance of its model before starting work in a
team. The model of team dynamics is explained here:
Forming: It is the first phase of making the team in which team is gathered to informed
them about the formation of team and the objective of the team. The team is first motivated to
achieve the tasks of team. Although they are not aware about the challenges which are coming in
the succession of the team. In this step, the team members are gathered to make them
comfortable with each other so that effective communication and collaboration can be
established between them.
Storming: This is the second stage of team dynamics in which team is gathered to know
each other. In between the conversation there may be a situation where conflict may arise due to
the position of team members. An effective team members have the feature of being a good
listener so that all the conflict-ions can be resolved easily.
Norming: It is the third phase in which all the team members are gathered to solve the
issues and con-fictions so that they can focus on the objective of whole team (Tsitskari and et.
al., 2017). This can happen when team is aware of the competition and they will share a common
goal. There is threat in it that members can be so focused on preventing the conflict and will not
share the controversial ideas among them.
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