Book aims to train university students, early- and mid-career professionals, volunteers
BETHESDA, Md. -- The Wildlife Society (TWS) has announced publication of The Leadership Workbook: Building Leadership Skills in the Natural Resource Professions and Beyond, authored by Cherrie Nolden, Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks Farm Bill coordinator; Michael Morrison of Texas A&M University; and Laura Bies of TWS.

This innovative instructional volume is aimed at natural resource professionals at all levels of training, from university students to early- and mid-career professionals and volunteers. Employees of government agencies, non-profit organizations, and private industry will also find useful information about how they can effectively improve their interactions with colleagues, peers, and the public -- all necessary skills for reaching one’s professional and organizational goals.

"I was asked by Dr. Michael Hutchins [TWS executive director] to help develop a leadership institute," says Nolden. "In the process, we decided that we needed a manual to provide guidance, so we wrote this one and published it through TWS. Our hope is that iT will be widely used by wildlife resource professionals, but it could be used for leadership courses in any field."

“It is our intention to help already-motivated people to increase their effectiveness as leaders, which in turn can ultimately result in more insightful management of our valuable natural resources,” adds Hutchins. “It is estimated that 75 percent of the leaders in this profession will retire in the next decade, and TWS feels strongly that we have a responsibility to prepare our members and others to fill this void with a new generation of leaders. This book will help in that effort.”

The Leadership Workbook can serve as either a stand-alone text to support classes, seminars, and workshops or as a supplement to any program designed to incorporate leadership instruction into staff training. The book is structured to elicit responses from readers and provide an active rather than passive learning experience.

The basic thesis of the book is that, with careful and thoughtful study, anyone can evaluate their personal skills and professional goals, formulate a vision for the future, rise to leadership status, and develop effective teams that will help advance their ideas by creating more leaders.
To order a copy of The Leadership Workbook, go online to www.wildlife.org and access the online bookstore.
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