Successful natural resource management is much more than good science; it requires working with landowners, meeting deadlines, securing funding, supervising staff, and cooperating with politicians. The ability to work effectively with people is as important for the conservation professional as it is for the police officer, the school teacher, or the lawyer. Yet skills for managing human interactions are rarely taught in academic science programs, leaving many conservation professionals woefully unprepared for the daily realities of their jobs.
Written in an entertaining, easy-to-read style, The Conservation Professional's Guide to Working with People fills a gap in conservation education by offering a practical, how-to guide for working effectively with colleagues, funders, supervisors, and the public. The book explores how natural resource professionals can develop skills and increase their effectiveness using strategies and techniques grounded in social psychology, negotiation, influence, conflict resolution, time management, and a wide range of other fields. Examples from history and current events, as well as real-life scenarios that resource professionals are likely to face, provide context and demonstrate how to apply the skills described.
The Conservation Professional's Guide to Working with People should be on the bookshelf of any environmental professional who wants to be more effective while at the same time reducing job-related stress and improving overall quality of life. Those who are already good at working with people will learn new tips, while those who are petrified by the thought of conducting public meetings, requesting funding, or working with constituents will find helpful, commonsense advice about how to get started and gain confidence.
Preface Chapter 1. A Personal Story Chapter 2. The Importance of Effective People Skills in Conservation How Human Behavior Affects the Environment Why Should We Protect the Environment? How Good Are Natural Resource Professionals at Modifying Human Behavior? Examples of People Skills in Action: Lake Davis and Devils Hole Conclusion Chapter Summary Chapter 3. How to Resolve Conflict and Defuse Contentious Situations: Verbal Judo and Other Communication Techniques . Verbal Judo Understand Your Critic The Verbal Judo Stage or Disarming Your Critic Diplomatically State Your Point of View Verbal Judo in Action ¿ The Angry Man in the Truck Communication in Crisis Situations Gundersen and Hopper Techniques Thompson Verbal Judo Methods Dealing with Hecklers ¿ A Common Occurrence for Conservation Professionals Conclusion Chapter Summary Chapter 4. How to Persuade People Needs of People Techniques of Influence Liking and Similarity Authority Reciprocation Commitment and Consistency Social Proof Scarcity Conclusion Chapter Summary Chapter 5. Customer Service and Getting Funded. Secrets of Customer Service Getting Funded Using Influence Principles Project Wrap-up and the Importance of Being Timely The Asian Tapeworm: An Example of Obtaining Project Funding Chapter Summary Chapter 6. How to Negotiate Effectively Interest-Based Bargaining Know and Improve Your BATNA. Cast Doubts on Theirs Focus on Underlying Interests, Not Positions Invent Options for Mutual Gain Use Objective Criteria to Argue for ¿The Package¿ You Favor Negotiate as if Relationships Mattered Two Examples of Real-Life Negotiations: The Reserve Mining Company and Snoqualmie Dam Conclusion Chapter Summary Chapter 7 ¿ How to Manage Yourself Time Management The Master List Review of Your Master List The Daily List Avoiding the Timewasters Organizing Paperwork and Equipment The TRAF System What To Do If Your Workspace Looks Like a Disaster Area Organizing Field Equipment Coping with Stress, Depression or Anxiety Conclusion Chapter Summary Chapter 8. How to Effectively Manage Personnel How to Hire Good Staff How to Manage Staff Getting Rid of the Problem Employee Working With Your Boss Conclusion Chapter Summary Chapter 9. How To Make a Good Impression on a Field Project Tips for Everyone Tips for Supervisors Conclusion Chapter Summary Chapter 10 ¿ Defending Yourself From Dirty Tricks, Machiavellianism and Other Annoyances How to Defend Yourself Against Underhanded Tactics Character Assassination, Bullying, and Scapegoating Dealing With Those Who Steal Your Ideas and Take Credit Bureaucratic Intransigence Naysayers Lying Dirty Tricks During Negotiation What if You Screw Up? Machiavelli and The Prince Conclusion Chapter Summary Chapter 11. Conclusion Notes
""Conserving essential natural resources requires more than specialized knowledge and advanced technologies'it calls for finely honed 'people skills.' Brimming with insights from hands-on experience, this book offers reassuring, wise, and entertaining guidance from a seasoned professional.""
' Paul R. Ehrlich, Bing Professor of Population Studies, Stanford University, author of One with Nineveh
""This practical, how-to book is written for resource professionals, ranging from students just embarking on their careers to seasoned managers and supervisors...I enjoyed reading this book and expect to consult it often in the future. I also look forward to bringing this book into my classrooms: Bonar's conversational style and the book's short, effective chapters will encourage reading by students and will provide material for engaging discussions. Furthermore, the high-quality binding and reasonable price of the paperback edition make for a valuable, durable book that is economically accessible to students and professionals alike.""
' Journal of Mammalogy
""I recommend the book to anyone who is short on time and looking for some new skills to bring to the table: it will make you more aware of your relationships with others and raise your skills'personal and professional' to a higher level.""
' Ecological Restoration
""This book means you don't have to read a book on conflict resolution, another on managing personnel, and a third on time management. Bonar has nicely summarized these in a single, easy-to-read book that is relevant to the conservation field.""
' Ecological Management and Restoration
""As a conservation professional himself, Bonar understands the situations one can get into and shows how basic principles of negotiation, customer service, and persuasion can apply to natural resources situations.""
