Articles
Up Your Game
The term “21st-century skills” has been commonplace for a couple decades. The idea is that opportunities, challenges, and events that have not yet occurred in the industry may become prevalent in the future, so workers need to possess the skills to be able to adapt, overcome, and succeed.
Seeking Talent
Every organization has four types of assets: 1. Physical 2. Financial 3. Intangible 4. Human.
Get Staff Involved!
Everyone involved in managing or operating a parks and recreation agency has a stake in the employee performance-appraisal process. And, with existing research indicating that pay-increase decisions account for more than 80 percent of appraisal uses, employees are eager not only to receive formal performance feedback but also to learn its impact on their future pay levels.
Getting “Green”horns Started
In the profession of parks, recreation and leisure services, creating, implementing and evaluating programs are the primary tasks. The scope of work is ever-changing, and now includes many non-
Assets Or Assassins
The phrase “green with envy” is thrown around rather casually when one speaks of someone who wishes to be someone else, or have what someone else has. However, I believe the concept has become
Mirroring Exemplary Behavior
In the spirit of the season, most of us look to the new year as an opportunity to reflect on our jobs. For some, this raises questions like “Is it time to move to a new company or even to a new career?” or “Should I ask for a
Rewarding Employees
As times change, so do the expectations of employees in the workplace (Robb, 2007). They want to be appreciated for their contributions, and employers need to be creative in ways of doing so.
Assessing Personalities
When William Shakespeare’s Hamlet was first performed in 1601, the last words of advice Polonius had for his son Laertes was “To thine own self be true.” More than 400 years later, these words of wisdom ring true
From Seasonal To Sensational
For many in the industry, summer is the busy season and, in turn, the time to add more seasonal or temporary employees.
Come Together
As a millennial, I am faced daily with a number of perceived truths about my generation, such as the things I have “killed”—credit cards, divorce, American cheese, print news, ESPN, Applebee’s. But what is hurting
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
A Worthy Evaluation
Often in these challenging times, parks and recreation professionals are asked to quantify the economic viability of an event or program. By grading an event primarily on customer surveys, participation and
Technology Is Nice, But People Still Make The Profession
Let me start by saying that I’m an old dog who has been with the same Parks and Recreation District since 1973. Over the years, as a recreational programmer and now as the superintendent, I’ve had the
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.
Mindful Communication
As park and recreation professionals, we communicate with many different types of people on any given day: co-workers, parents, children, individuals with special needs, senior citizens,
More Than A Box On A Resume
Many parks and recreation agencies take the time to prepare students for the industry through internships. For those organizations looking to hire an intern, the following will provide some
Slip-Resistant Thinking
In the last few years, I have frequently had uncomfortable conversations about performance and job status with individuals who had previously been thought of as stellar employees.
Rewarding Employees
As times change, so do the expectations of employees in the workplace (Robb, 2007). They want to be appreciated for their contributions, and employers need to be creative in ways of doing so. Here