STARS Stories

1.      Give an example of what teamwork means to you.

*Describe the SITUATION

* What was the TASK at hand

*What ACTION did you take

*finally, what were the RESULTS of your actions

 I am the director of a medical spa that sees a series of clients every day who are receiving a course of treatments. Each certified member of the staff is a crucial part of the each clients experience at the spa and to the spa’s functioning alone.

On a specific weekend this month we had a problem with our scheduling software and ended up double booked for a solid four hours that day. Typically each client spends about 30 min in a consult room, 40 min in a laser room and synergie room and the last 30 in a sauna. Totaling a time frame of two hours and twenty minutes. With the double bookings we had four hours worth of treatments to perform in two hour increments.  

Our staff had to formulate a productive plan for each hour of operation that day and how to maximize the intake without providing less than excellent service to each client. Also we had to find a way to accommodate the most clients in order not to have to compensate clients for rescheduling their appointments.

Of the many staff members that we couldn’t do without came up with the idea with secluding all treatments to one room so that each room could perform all the treatments at the same time thus resulting in being able to accommodate all the clients scheduled that day. Two employee’s offered to stay hours past the time they were scheduled and without them it wouldn’t have functioned properly.

As a result of careful planning, a cooperative staff and competent work the day was a success with all clients taken care of properly and even some up sales were made. The teamwork exhibited by my staff was unparalleled that day.

2.      Give me an example of a major challenge that you faced and how you went about addressing the problem and how it turned out.

*Describe the SITUATION

* What was the TASK at hand

*What ACTION did you take

*finally, what were the RESULTS of your actions

Last year I was entrusted to nanny a family’s children of five as their parents went on a cruise for seven days. Never having managed more than two children at a time and even then those two being younger siblings of mine the task was daunting.

I was asked to prepare them all meals,  make sure they arrived at all their many commitments including soccer, piano, tennis and football practice. As well as make sure all their school work as being completed and they were not killing each other so to speak.

In order to manage this situation I “employed” the older two girls of twelve and ten years old to play a life size version of “house”. A game previously only mimicked by dolls. They were thrilled at the chance to be mothers, cleaners, and babysitters. We as a team of three managed the other three and made sure everyone was taken care of while having some fun in the process.

The weekend with some very accomplished little girls and the rest of the family having not noticed their parents were even missing. Every day ran smoothly and no one got into too physical of an argument, which I saw as a victory.

3.      Describe a past goal and how you achieved it.

*Describe the SITUATION

* What was the TASK at hand

*What ACTION did you take

*finally, what were the RESULTS of your actions

Back in high school I was on the debate team and had my heart set on taking state in the oratory division. It was a highly competitive competition and I was merely a sophomore in my first year of debate competing against seniors who were infinitely more qualified.

In order to win I had to craft a ten minute speech and have it memorized and ready to perform in a matter of three weeks, this was beyond anything I was experienced with. I managed to come up with the topic of “The band Wagon” which was talking about how people are usually more inclined to do what people expect them to do and what everyone else is participating in as well. I practiced for hours daily after school. Numerous hours, four rewrites and harsh critical comments later I  was prepared for the state competition.

I ended up not only going to state with my speech but also managed to qualify for nationals. It is still one of my most prized moments and greatest accomplishments.