How to Discover the Culture at Your Park

Phil Gaines, retired Director of South Carolina State Parks, returns to discuss strong park culture.  While some say culture is how you do things, the truth is discovering culture goes much deeper. For instance, when a new park ranger obtains a new role, they instantly inherit a culture. In some cases, the culture may be unhealthy; in others, it may be rich in tradition.  Whatever the situation, knowing the formal structure and informal influencers is critical to quality management. As Phil explains, though rangers may serve as the primary authority, all staff members can leave an impact on a park and its programs. Accordingly, if rangers commit themselves to know their personnel and the people they influence, the more they’ll discover the ‘why’ of their culture.   Connect: www.parkleaders.com Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/