In this episode of the Park Leaders Show, Phil Gaines joins me again as my semi-regular guest host. Today, we are diving deep on employee motivation and how we, as leaders, can help to sustain it, even in trying times.

The current landscape of our nation can feel like it is one thing after another. In these times, it is necessary to keep a pulse on our team and provide motivation. In seasons as we find ourselves in, even the most motivated employees can be struggling.

Often we view money as the key motivator, but on its own, it can fall short. Motivation, by definition, is temporary; culture is what carries through. As leaders, we must encourage our team with the resources we have available to us. This is how we build a sustainable culture.

By fostering a culture of engagement and empowerment, we help our employees understand they are part of something bigger than themselves. Communicating where we are and where we are going fosters self-motivation within our team.

You don’t have to have all the answers. By providing vision will help you sustain and keep motivated employees.

On today’s episode of the Park Leaders Show, we have an old friend joining us. John Griffith has guested on six episodes over the past six years and has been integral in the growth of the show. John is a huge voice in the conservation movement and has worked to educate the masses for many years with a 19-year stint in the California Conservation Core and as the host of Wild Jobs on Animal Planet.

John has now transitioned to a place of passion as a Nature Guide or Interpreter for the North Coast District of California State Parks. While tenure may have him as the “new guy”, his background in social media and creating relevant education have helped him build a thriving educational program even during the current pandemic we are experiencing.

Today we discuss the importance of empowering guests and visitors to recreate the awe they experience in a natural setting and translate it to the nature around them in their daily lives. The importance of sowing seeds of inspiration in the short touchpoints nature guides have is key to taking their visit from terminal to transformative. By associating learning about nature with fun and utilizing entertaining methods, a passion for conservation can be cultivated one visitor at a time.

Episode resources:

Book Recommendation: Bringing Nature Home – by Douglas W. Tallamy

https://www.amazon.com/Bringing-Nature-Home-Wildlife-Expanded-ebook/dp/B003UV8ZTE/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Bringing+Nature+Home&qid=1589334645&sr=8-1&tag=stephprodu-20

Humbolt Redwood State Park Page –https://www.facebook.com/HumboldtRedwoodsStatePark/

Facebook Page: @Griffwilds - https://www.facebook.com/GriffWild/

Facebook Group: @Griffswildtips  https://www.facebook.com/groups/GriffsWildTips/

Instagram: @thenaturenut  https://www.instagram.com/thenaturenut/

YouTube: John Griffith https://www.youtube.com/user/TotemMagicGoingMAD

Marnin Robbins, Interpretive Program Manager for the North Coast Redwoods District and California State Parks, discusses his story and the value of interpretation.

As Marnin describes, interpretation is a mixture of information exchange and inspiration exchange - a role that helps provide context and meaning for people who visit natural landmarks. While the job covers much ground, exploring interpretation in parks is rooted in interactive conversation and bringing nature to life virtually. Understandably, this aspect was limited in decades past; however, today, using modern technology, park rangers can now protect national parks and help people understand their significance through online interpretive programs.

Our semi-regular guest host, Phil Gains, is back with us to discuss a somewhat controversial topic in park leadership: park rangers & law enforcement.

There are many differing opinions and policies about the role of law enforcement in parks. Expectations and execution vary from state to state. People feel strongly about how and why law enforcement should be in place. When you boil it down, law enforcement plays an important part in the parks landscape: to protect our visitors and the resources we have been entrusted to steward.

Regardless of your stance, as leaders, it is our responsibility to provide the necessary training and equipment to our team, whatever that may look like at your park. While philosophies range from 'Ranger First' to 'Law Enforcement First (or someone will get hurt)', the goal remains the same; being prepared and utilizing the tools available to us to serve our visitors and provide a safe environment for enjoying our parks.