EXPEDITION GUIDE ACADEMY
Soft Skills for Expedition Guiding
About the Course
The skills you can’t see are often the ones that matter most. They are the backbone of a high-functioning team and the key to an unforgettable guest experience. While technical abilities, like driving a Zodiac or operating a VHF radio, are essential, "soft skills" are just as critical for a successful expedition.
Soft Skills for Expedition Guiding (SSE) is a two-day, in-person intensive training course. This training is designed for expedition cruise guides of all levels, from aspiring guides to established professionals, who want to master team dynamics, improve risk-based decision-making, and gain the conflict resolution tools necessary for professional excellence.
Since discovering The Professional Guide’s Handbook, it has been our dream to offer a bespoke program dedicated to these "soft skills". We are beyond excited to host the book’s author, Colby Brokvist, in Denmark to lead this exclusive EGA course.
What You’ll Gain
You will improve knowledge and performance in the following skill sets
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Communication
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Teamwork
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Guide Professionalism
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Risk Management & Decision Making (specific to teams)
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Interpersonal Conflict (colleagues and guests)
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Guests Experience
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Challenging Scenarios
SSE Course Outline
Course Elements
Day 1: The Human Side of Professional Guiding
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Foundations of Professional Guiding
Model: 4 roles of professional guiding
Soft skills as professional & operational skills
Guest-oriented service
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Self-Awareness & Guide Team Dynamics
Model: Universal Leadership – awareness for expedition guide teams
Personal style and adaptability
How your style affects colleagues, guests, operations and decision-making
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Understanding Team Function & Needs
Model: Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs for adventure travel
Model: Tuckman’s Group Formation
Recognising what colleagues and guests need at different stages
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Communication Pathways & Team Alignment
Establishing shared purpose and vision
Establishing & respecting communication pathways
Running effective team meetings
Giving clear updates, concerns, and handovers
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Conflict Management
Model: Drama Triangle – recognising and de-escalating conflict
Team roles and boundaries
Balancing personal and professional relationships
Day 2: Applying Soft Skills in the Field
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Guest Briefings as Leadership Tools
Briefings as expectation-setting, risk management, and trust-building tools
Designing Activity briefings
Delivering Safety briefings
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Decision-Making Practices
Model: Analytical > Intuitive Decisions
Understanding and refining judgment
Field practices for planning and preparation
Good habits for avoiding poor decision traps
Scenario Practice
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Guest Experience Delivery & Interpretation Planning
Model: Arc of the traveler experience
Turning moments of awe, challenge, and connection into meaningful guest experiences
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Feedback, Evaluation & Professional Growth
How to give and receive feedback with colleagues
Utilizing guest evaluations constructively
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Integration, Debrief & Next Steps
Summary Review
Personal Takeaways
Continued practice and growth
* Please note that Course Elements are subject to change. Your instructors will adjust according to the participants and time
Location: Denmark
Language: English Proficient
Age: 18+
Previous experience: None required
Who is the course for?
Those new to the industry and seasoned guides. The course is designed for anyone looking to strengthen their ability to function in team settings, add skills to the CV, and strengthen methodologies and systems for teamwork, communication and decision-making.
Ratio Theoretical & Practical Firearm Training: 1:12
Date: 13,14 September 2026
Duration: 2 days
Maximum: 12
Minimum: 10
Price: USD $ 1200
Colby Brokvist
Colby Brokvist is a professional expedition guide and educator. He has led expeditions globally since 2004, ranging from backpacking to wildlife photography to polar sailing, with a particular focus on conservation travel. As the author of The Professional Guide’s Handbook and founder of Waypoint Guide Academy, Colby teaches expedition leadership and conservation communication to guides of all adventure disciplines.
As a certified Senior Polar Guide, Colby currently serves as Chair of the Polar Tourism Guides Association, where he helps shape industry standards for excellence in guiding. He is also featured in The Guide, a short film by World Wildlife Fund, and proudly represents Tomorrow’s Air, a nonprofit connecting travelers with progressive climate solutions.
This training is designed not only for guides and expedition staff, but also for scientists, field teams and any adventure travel guide who works in team settings.
Key topics:
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Creating guests experince
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Communication
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What professionalism looks like
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Managing risks
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Briefings and managing guests
Practical Course Information
Once you have booked
Once you have booked your place on the Soft Skills for Expedition Guiding course, you will receive a confirmation email, followed by a Practical Information email, with specific pre-course information. This will include exact location details, how to get there, the course outline, and timings. Included are also accommodation suggestions. Please note that this information is provided after booking.
Arrival and Departure Recommendations
The course takes place in the heart of Copenhagen. We highly recommend that participants arrive the day before the course starts and leave the day after. This leaves a healthy buffer for you. More information on this is provided in the Practical Information email mentioned above.
Accommodation and Meals
Participants will take care of booking their own accommodation in Copenhagen.
During the 2 days with us, participants will have lunch provided (vegetarian sandwiches) together with coffee and tea. Breakfast and dinner are not included.
Other Notes
We only offer the Soft Skills for Expedition Guiding course once this year. The dates have been thought through carefully to make it easy for those of you who also wish to book our Zodiac Rescue & First Aid course or are already booked on our Comprehensive Guide Course.
Certification
Successful completion of the course leads to a certificate issued by the EGA, bearing both the Expedition Guide Academy's (EGA) stamp and the Waypoint Guide Academy's stamp. EGA is a PTGA-approved training provider. It's a great paper to have in your hand when you apply for guiding jobs.
