Developing competencies that enhance your effectiveness in whatever role you play in fish and wildlife management is mission critical given the many challenges faced by conservation agencies and non-governmental organizations.  Recognizing that there are many facets to “effectiveness,” a recent study focused on habits and practices leading to good reasoning and judgment found among consistently high-performing agency staff.  The study was supported by a Multi-State Conservation Grant from the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies; the Center for Conservation Social Sciences, Department of Natural Resources, Cornell University; the Wildlife Management Institute (Washington, DC); Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission; Fish and Wildlife Division, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation; Wildlife Division, Michigan Department of Natural Resources; and Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University.
 
The study identified numerous categories of habits and practices that contribute to reasoning and judgment of consistently high-performing fish and wildlife professionals. The habits/practices can be organized into five (5) broad groups based on similarity and/or complementarity: Critically Inquisitive and Continuously Learning; Multi-level, Integrative Systems Thinking; Self-disciplined; Balanced Approach; and Interactions with Others. These groups can be thought of as clusters of competencies characteristic of consistently high-performing fish and wildlife professionals.

This self-assessment tool was created as an aid for guiding fish and wildlife professionals in development.  The tool will assist you in identifying how well your habits and practices align with those that have been identified as associated with high performance.  The habits and practices considered in this tool emerged from literature review, interviews with fish and wildlife employees and two-rounds of input from a panel of over 70 employees from across the U.S. who are recognized by their peers as being especially effective. Review of the habits and practices identified coupled with personal reflection on how consistently you apply each can aid self-improvement efforts aimed at developing greater competency in whatever role you play in conservation.

The tool is easy to use.  It consists of a series of statements for you to reflect on regarding the consistency of your application of the described habits and practices.  The habits and practices are organized into the five groups listed above.  After thinking about each statement, rate your consistency of application of each habit or practice indicated in the statement, using a three-point self-rating scale from “I typically need prompting to remember to do this” to “This is my common practice.”  Just mark the bubble that most closely reflects where you think you are with respect to applying the particular habit or practice. If the statement is not applicable to you, skip that line.