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
Description
Reviews
""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.""
' Natural Areas Journal