John Kortis wrote: > To Ralph Diaz; > > <partial quote. see original for proper context> > : ...people's salaries, promotions and > : careers are on the line and they > : tend to listen better...i.e. money > : is on the line. > > I would propose that people's lives are on the line, and are a better > motivation than money. I will agree that different conditions will > present themselves on the water than will present themselves in other > situations. This only calls for a different set of solutions, and not > the abandonment of managerial and leadership skills. People's lives are always more important than money but I think you missed my point or I did a poor job explaining it. My point is that general paddlers joining a group paddle organized by some club get caught up in the euphoria of the paddling experience. In some or many cases they are oblivious to the dangers on the water and, because of this are not paying attention or heeding suggestions of a leader. When money is on the line, they respond to that, i.e. they pay for the service of a leader and his/her crew and therefore tend to listen more and group in closer to the leader; they want their money's worth. That is where the money comes in. Also regarding managerial skills...by definition they are exercised in a managerial situation, i.e. a workplace. A workplace consists of individuals drawing salaries, worried about promotions or getting fired. They are more inclined to heed what a manager says because there is money on the line than if in recreational voluntary environment. In contrast to a paid-for tour service or a job-related situation, the interplay between a volunteer leader of a trip and the people who join in the group paddle has wholely different dynamics. Money is missing as a motivation and, while lives really can be on the line, participants in a group paddle may not perceive this. That is why at one point I facetiously said that perhaps one way to get participants in a group paddle into the right mood is to stage an accident at the beginning of the trip and make it look scary. Thereafter, they may pay more attention and be responsive to general instructions such as staying close together, etc. The few times something has gone wrong on a trip I have led, the group's cohesion suddenly grew multifold. Nothing like fear to get the mind concentrated. A group of kids might wander into a vacant house at night and dart around in all directions, but the moment a shutter slams, the kids suddenly glue themselves in a hurry to some strong or older figure. BTW, I have not heard you offer specific suggestions regarding handling groups of paddlers (in various situations) beyond some general references to "leadership skills." Several of us have done so with very specific tips, pointers and actual experiences. You obviously have vast experiences and it would be just great if you share some of the things you have done specifically to make group trips safe and enjoyable. ralph diaz -- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Ralph Diaz . . . Folding Kayaker newsletter PO Box 0754, New York, NY 10024 Tel: 212-724-5069; E-mail: rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com "Where's your sea kayak?"----"It's in the bag." ----------------------------------------------------------------------- *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************Received on Mon Apr 05 1999 - 21:05:35 PDT
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