Photo Credit: Courtesy Steven J. Thompson
Since many new park and recreation managers are promoted from other positions within an agency, it's important that management-training programs are available. New managers may lack essential management skills, and the only way to ensure success is to give them the necessary tools to obtain their goals.
Presentation
Many new managers have never had to give a professional presentation, but they may need to conduct budget-related presentations, deliver training presentations, or make other presentations to colleagues and superiors. Developing superior presentation skills is critical to success. Some training programs focus on issues, such as one’s speaking voice, body language, and word usage. Other programs are specifically designed to teach presentation design skills using specific software, such as Microsoft PowerPoint, while still others combine this information into one or more sessions so new managers can gain valuable information over time.
Communication
Whether they are writing reports or counseling employees about their behavior, new managers need to be able to communicate effectively, both in person and on paper. Many management-training programs offer information on developing skills in technical writing, proposal writing, and interpersonal communication. All of these skills can help new managers eliminate misunderstandings, and ensure that critical information is understood by all parties.