A highlight of virtually every seminar came when participants realized something that had never before occurred to them. These happened randomly and in some unexpected ways.

Benchmarks™ were very enlightening to most participants. New insights were provided that had never been recognized. The information provided to the participants was the result of feedback from supervisors, peers, and subordinates who completed questionnaires concerning the participants’ leadership attributes. After the Benchmarks™ were presented, many participants remarked, “If only I had known what these were, I would’ve put more importance into preparing them.

”Other notable highlights that brightened more than one seminar included that participants:

• began to understand not only how to make positive personal changes in themselves but realized that they actually needed to do so
• began to truly understand and value what it means to examine assumptions
• felt that they were learning how to learn
• expressed a sense that the National Park Service can teach itself new tricks
• expressed that the National Park Service does care
• expressed that the seminars gave them a new self-awareness
• experienced growing pains that forced them to question for the first time “Is this the best we can do?”
• began to make a greater connection between personal responsibility and accountability

Many sentiments were expressed, including:   

“In 20 years of working for the National Park Service, this is the first time I’ve ever met a USPP person.”  

“I learned that we have a lot to learn from each other.”