Environmentalists Should Learn to Work Well With People, Book Argues

NEW BOOKS

The Conservation Professional’s Guide to Working With People
by Scott A. Bonar

“Because of the importance of people’s attitudes and philosophies in conserving our natural environment, one would have thought that conservation professionals would be the best psychologists, communicators, marketers, lobbyists, and negotiators of any profession,” writes Scott A. Bonar, an associate professor at the University of Arizona and leader of the Arizona Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit.

Unfortunately, he writes, “skills related to working with and influencing people are often less developed in the natural-resources profession than in other occupations.”

Mr. Bonar offers advice for biologists, zoologists, environmental activists, government officials, and other conservation professionals interested in developing people skills, to help them effectively supervise staff members, manage their careers, negotiate with landowners and other constituents, and convince politicians and citizens of the importance of environmental conservation.

He discusses how to become a master of “verbal judo,” a technique that peacefully defuses an opponent’s argument. The chapter says that acknowledging partial agreement with an opponent, demonstrating empathy, offering compliments, and using diplomacy — instead of making counterattacks or appearing defensive — can help get the point across.

“Unlike curing cancer, traveling to other universes, or fighting AIDS, we currently have much of the technology we need in place to protect the earth’s resources and make our lives better,” Mr. Bonar concludes. “All we have to do is decide to use it, and convince others to use it as well.”

Publisher: Island Press, 1718 Connecticut Avenue, N.W., Suite 300, Washington, D.C. 20009; (202) 232-7933; fax (202) 234-1328; info@islandpress.org; http://www.islandpress.com; 198 pages; $25; ISBN 1-59726-148-3.