Creating the Spirit by Ted Flickinger, Ph.D. IAPD Executive Director and Managing Editor

The highly effective park and recreation managers do more than manage. They also lead. There is a big difference. Some park and recreation agencies are well managed but poorly lead because the park and recreation director prefers to act on routine problems while ignoring or putting aside more important matters. These are the individuals who get bogged down with details that should be delegated.

Jan Kantor, author of the new book Inspiring People in the Workplace, states that one major distinction between a leader and a manager is that the leader "does the right thing" and the manager "does things right." Both roles are highly important, but they differ greatly. The park and recreation manager needs to ask the question, "Is the park and recreation agency underlead or over-managed?" The preoccupation with doing things right causes less attention to be devoted to doing the right thing. Jan Kantor lists the following traits which characterizes a true leader and an effective manager.

Draws attention. Leaders can draw others to them. They have a way of communicating. They offer vision. Leaders know what they want and communicate their vision in goals and directions that others can clearly see and relate to. Setting up visual charts and graphs to show progerss is one way to let others see how their efforts help reach goals.

Communicates meaning and understanding. Leaders find ways to communicate meaning through the use of models and examples. Ronald Reagan once described a trillion dollars by comparing it to "piling up dollar bills beside the Empire State Building." People relate and respond to examples and models.

Instills trust. Leaders have the ability to instill trust. People want to know where their leaders stand. Are they consisten? They want to follow someone who does not waiver on issues.

Understands one's self. Leaders without self-awareness can do more harm than good. Leaders know their skills and apply them effectively.

What is a leader? A manager is a leader when he learns to draw attention and communicates vision, when he displays the ability to bring meaning to ideas for others, when he instills trust.

In a survey conducted by the Illinois Association of Park Districts of selected professionals, the following top ten qualities of a park and recreation leader were identified:

1. Excellent communicator (oral and written)
2. Ethical; honest; integrity
3. Good public relations skills
4. Sensitivity to the needs of the community
5. Effective decision-maker
6. Being organized
7. Knowledge of the profession
8. Creativity
9. Dedication
10. Positive Attitude

Managers that are leaders create a successful park and recreation agency with a service reputation that is a proactive organization. The leader trains the agency staff on how to communicate to the citizens (customers) that the agency cares. Staff are sensitive to the citizens' concerns. Staff should never argue with a citizen (customer). The agency will stand by its guaranteed services no matter what. Some park districts guarantee satisfaction by giving citizens their money back on programs where they are dissatisfied.

Outstanding management also leads to outstanding agencies. The well eld staff consistently exceed citizens' (customers') expectations. The staff know that offering unique services to the public takes a total commitment from every employee within the park and recreation agency. The employees must be willing to remove the word satisfaction from service goals and instead work to exceed citizens' expectations to the point that citizens are willing to tell others about the outstanding agency.