Leadership: Developing an understanding ...
a few viewpoints
The Environmental Education Advocate - Summer 1997
The following information is provided to you as a service of the National Environmental Education Advancement Project (NEEAP). We encourage you to use it and please credit the National Environmental Education Advancement Project where appropriate.
NEEAP recently asked leaders in states to provide their input on the definition of leadership. The resulting contributions highlight the multi-faceted and changing nature of leadership in the 1990’s. Common leadership themes point to a life-long process which requires the leader to assume multiple roles as teacher, motivator, visionary, bridge builder as well as many more. State leaders share their perspectives below.
Wisconsin’s Project WET facilitator handbook shares a leadership definition by Mike Giammatteo.
Leadership is the activity of helping others work toward common goals or purposes. Today, the expert in leadership is the one who best knows how to release the creative talents of those with whom he or she works. In earlier years, the expert in leadership was considered to be the one who best knew the answers. Now, terminology has changed from "directing and controlling" to "involving and motivating."
Leadership ... builds and maintains the group
gets the job done
helps the group feel comfortable and at ease
helps to set and clearly define objectives
works cooperatively towards these objectives.
EE 2000 team member Celeste Prussia’s checklist desirable qualities for a leader.
*Self-awareness
*Team- and coalition-building skills
* Networking ability
*Incessant desire to learn
* Social grace and a sense of humor
* Ability to work with many different kinds of people
* An inviting, developmental interest in the future
* Ability to foresee, define, create, organize and manage change
* Ability to match interests with other organizations and within the institution
* An understanding of the general purpose, vision and mission of the field
* Convincing, inspiring, and lucid communication abilities, including the ability to listen
*Entrepreneurial vision
*Breadth of experience
* Knowledge of the local community
* Political acumen
NEEAP consultant Corky McReynolds sheds some light on leadership in environmental education.
McReynold’s research highlights the attributes or "essential qualities" of leadership for environmental center administrators. Four of eight themes are summarized below. The remaining four are management skills, process skills, content skills, and systems perspective
Passion for People Passion for Purpose Vision is Vital Living is Learning
- belief & enjoyment in people - belief in the mission - future orientation - something can always be
- team orientation - caring for the mission - big picture learned
- developing others - mentorship - risk taking - ability to transfer learning
- understanding ourselves & others into practice
*NEEAP welcomes your input as we continue to develop leadership models and training workshops.
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