Part of the Eppley Institute’s Parks, Recreation, and Public Lands Leadership series. Eppley’s online leadership courses for parks, recreation, and public lands managers are found on proValens Learning.
Leaders, it is widely believed, are most effective when they recognize there is no expert leader. The leadership study field believes now that the most effective leaders are always learning about leadership, reading books, searching for latest ideas online, conversing with other leaders across their profession; in other words, being a student of leadership.
Being in learning mode is a challenge sometimes; it is not easy to continually study leadership on your own when experience is one of the best ways to learn to lead. That creates a challenge for leaders who are in busy demanding public agency parks and recreation management positions. The Harvard Business Review published an article discussing the digitization of the workplace, removal of key mid-manager positions, and the expectations of managers around creating a climate of safety while increasing expectations of the workforce. No one predicts where these fundamental changes will end up, but the summary is that something is broken, and redefining management roles is critical. The trend may be focusing on fundamental changes to leading people across fluid workplaces that are performance oriented, less place based, and much less focused on fitting into boxes.
As Steve Wolter, Eppley’s Director, visits with agency leaders and managers across the nation, he sees some of these trends and wonder how people find the time to intentionally think about their jobs, the changes that are being demanded, and how to deliberately evolve to being a leader of change and people. To Wolter, it is not clear how agency managers will find time and space to think through being a leader, to be a student of leadership, and then find safe places to implement changes. “It seems, in my conversations with others, that the pace and accountability demand, as well as the public’s insatiable demand for more parks, trails, open space, and recreation, creates almost an ‘assembly line’ job requirement for most managers. The meetings, online and in person, almost never leave time for critical thought and review, or for learning innovative approaches, and skills. Coupled with the demands on managers for email and digital approvals, it is likely that it is difficult to lead, and learn leadership over a career.’ says Wolter.
How to move forward in small time chunks for busy people who want to improve their leadership skills? Wolter suggests that while online courses are one way to engage, and in person leadership workshops also encourage growth and change, they can cost money and take lots of time. Alternatives he suggests are online videos, online searches, and quick time limited reading to stimulate thinking and ideas. Wolter also adds ‘finding a good general leadership textbook to refer to from time to time is a great desk top resource.’ What is on his reading list for leadership right now? “I am a huge fan of Joseph L. Badaracco and his book ‘Leading Quietly’ is something I am reading now. It is an older book but seems more current as it examines practical yet counter-intuitive guidelines for right and wrong when situations are unclear.”
In the end, being a leader is about lifelong learning and applying experiences to improving how we lead.
Eppley is announcing a broader leadership development program for park, recreation, and public land managers later this Fall. The program, still in design, uses personal growth, sound understanding of leadership concepts and principles, application of leadership knowledge, mentorship, and opportunities to lead as its approach. It promotes the parallel paths of leadership development and personal growth facilitating a convergence over the training program. Look for the program announcement in upcoming Eppley newsletters.