Articles
Connect The Dots
Many organizations--including parks and recreation agencies--will soon face a major shift in staffing due to the “Baby Boomer effect” and the “Generation X and Generation Y effect” The baby boomers h
What's Your Style?
In one form or another, we are all thrust into a leadership role during the work day. Whether we are leading an organization or a youth soccer team, leadership is one of those intangible, almost
Collective Thinking
Is it possible to have several smart individuals in a group, only to have them produce lousy ideas? The answer is yes! Can the collective intelligence of a group go beyond the abilities of individual
80 Ways To Reduce Expenses, Part 1: Labor
Part 1: LaborEditor's Note: This is the first installment of a four-part series that will explore 80 ways to reduce operating expenses. In these difficult economic times, these ways could be the diffe
Resonant Leaders
In parks and recreation departments across the country, staff members and supervisors carry different levels of responsibility and authority; however, it is important to remember that each person
Creating Effective Managers
Since many new park and recreation managers are promoted from other positions within an agency, it's important that management-training programs are available. New managers may lack essential
Follow My Lead
Ten days after graduating college, I started my career supervising the recreation division of a new parks and recreation department in a small town. I learned every aspect of running a department—knowledge
Performance Evaluations
One of the most difficult tasks expected of management is the end-of-the-year evaluation. Do you say too much? Do you say too little? Do you inadvertently offend the employee with a casual remark
Want To Become A Better Manager?
Being a manager is not easy because it usually involves both tasks and people. The latter are considered the greater challenge for managers because too often organizations view employees in much the same way as material resources—a commodity.
Shoring Up
In the fall of 2013, the Durham Parks and Recreation (DPR) Outdoor Recreation unit in N.C. became responsible for Durham Lakes—two bodies of water in northern Durham County: Lake
Skill Acquisition For Staff
For most parks and recreation agencies, the cost of human resources makes up a significant portion of the annual operating budget. How do you ensure effective performance management of existing staff and ongoing development of future human resources?
Management & Mission Q&A
Q: We have a mission and a vision statementfor our department. They are bothvery lengthy. No one really pays anyattention to them. Truthfully, mostemployees donХt know what they aregood for. What good
It's Not My FaultЙ
It's kind of embarrassing isn't it? Our country asking other countries if they mind if we stand up for what we believe in. American companies asking their employees if they can help them find
Degrees of Separation
The sun is setting on a backyard in Cleveland. A man stands with his arms around the back of his five-year-old son. They are both clutching that same baseball bat. As they simultaneously trace the
Building Blocks
A close friend of mine, who is a carpenter, was nearing retirement and finding himself conflicted with the notion of living a life where there is no hard evidence of daily productivity such as a well