Nothing ever becomes real till it is experienced. - John Keats

Books and lectures can only get students so far. The best education for students of all ages incorporates experience outside the classroom—experience that makes what they’re learning “real.” And field trips are one of the best ways to get students out of the classroom.

Field trips also expose students to increased risk. Students must be transported and monitored in environments teachers don’t and can’t control in the same way they control their classrooms. To assure these risks don't become bad experiences, schools must be committed to risk management around field trips. Here are a few risk management strategies that can help make field trips a positive learning experience for students.

Today we’re sharing insight from guest blogger Karen Moscato. We hope you enjoy Karen’s wisdom and perspective.

“Who are you?” said the Caterpillar. Alice replied, rather shyly, “I - I hardly know, sir, just at present - at least I know who I was when I got up this morning, but I think I must have changed several times since then.” --- Lewis Carroll Alice’s Adventures through the Looking Glass

Would you answer as Alice did?

In this world of constant change, we know who we are when we get up in the morning, but by evening we might have gone through several changes. Be it a loss of relationships, changes in home life, personal changes, work and financial changes, or many other issues. Thanks to technology, sometimes we receive multiple changes during the course of a day.

Your website and internet presence is a reflection of who you are and what you do. And it needs to be accurate. Be it potential clients, underwriters, or prospective employees – what they find on your website and the internet shapes how they view your company.

Does your risk management strategy take into consideration your online presence?

Social media is an integral part of our everyday lives. It brings significant benefits for businesses and business owners. After all, 95% of adults are most likely to follow a brand via social networking, according to Marketing Sherpa.

Along with the benefits from building an engaging social presence, come associated risks – risks of both being on social media and being absent from it altogether. It’s immensely important to know what these risks are, as well as the proper strategies to manage them.

From all of us at Gibson, we wish you peace, prosperity, and a happy new year!

Today we’re sharing insight from guest blogger Juliann Jankowski, Executive Director of Leadership South Bend/Mishawaka and Incoming Board President for National Association of Leadership Programs. We hope you enjoy Juliann’s wisdom and perspective!

As leaders, whether it be of a business, a community organization, or a family, it is imperative we realize the importance of truly putting the needs of others first. How can I help my employees do their jobs to the best of their ability? Am I listening to their needs and concerns? Am I adequately praising as well as providing coaching and feedback? Am I encouraging and supporting others to reach their full potential? Am I giving them opportunities to grow and develop? Am I making the difficult decisions I need to make for the good of the individual and of the organization?

A nonprofit’s board of directors sets the organization’s direction. They set the tone and directly impact the organization’s ability to live its mission. So if they aren’t operating effectively, your organization’s risk of doing something wrong or even failing increases.

Today we’re sharing insight from guest blogger Adam Kronk, Head of School for La Lumiere School. We hope you enjoy Adam’s wisdom and perspective.

I might have stumbled across something pretty profound. Just maybe, it could be the key to unlocking the potential in our teams, a critical component to happiness in our homes, and a promising way to mend our fractured society, one relationship at a time.

It’s a question, actually. And it’s simple: “What are you going through?” The process starts by asking someone—anyone, pretty much—this question. (Or using the true investigation of this question as the point of your conversation.)

It can be a challenge in of itself to find quality talent. But once you hire those individuals, do you struggle with retaining them? Employee retention is a costly issue facing many contractors.

Today we’re sharing insight from guest blogger Mike Cahill, President & CEO of Physicians Health Plan of Northern Indiana. We hope you enjoy Mike’s wisdom and perspective.

Many years ago, as a young man, I learned an important lesson. At the time I did not appreciate it as much as I do today. I started at a fast-growing company at the age of 25 and moved up rapidly. As I moved up, many of my former colleagues who I socialized with and were my work peers became my direct reports. I was proud that ‘I did not change’ as my position changed. We were able to work with each other, talk openly with each other, and still keep our social lives unchanged…or so I thought.