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Tim's Takeover: What Is Good Leadership?
Tim's Takeover: What Is Good Leadership?
There were many fascinating comments on the last blog that seemed to capture not only the core purpose of Scouting, but also the importance of adult leadership. That set me thinking about how we recognise good leadership. I’m thinking not only about leaders working with young people but also the other leadership positions in Scouting: Group Scout Leaders, District Commissioners, County/Area Commissioners and so on.
The influence of leaders
We can sometimes underestimate the influence that we have as leaders in Scouting – both as leaders of young people and of adults. I think back to the influences on me as a young person and the role model that was set by my leaders. I particularly remember Richard and Mike Lord – twins who were Assistant Scout Leaders when I was a Scout (Patrol Leader of the Eagles as it happens). They provided a sense of fun and adventure together with a real purpose for what we were doing in the Troop. When I became a Scout Leader I often thought back to how Richard and Mike did things and used their example to guide me.
Good leadership
When I became a District Commissioner, I was given some very sound advice by a good friend of my father – Tony Wigley. He noted that sometimes it is not necessary to rush into a problem at full speed in order to solve it. Sometimes, he said, it is right to allow a little time so that you are clear what the problem is before you try and solve it. And how many times have Tony’s words proved to be correct!
I believe that good leadership is not just about dealing with the good times – but also about the hard decisions that we have to make. Perhaps good leadership is needed and tested more in the difficult times. Often the hard decision, the decision that really won’t make you very popular at the time, is exactly the right decision to make.
In order to make good decisions, we have to be very clear about what we are trying to achieve. It is vital to have the 'big picture' for Scouting in our minds, not just the immediate problem. I believe that today’s Scouting requires and deserves people with a clear vision – whether that is in the Group, the District, the County or nationally.
I believe also that good leadership is about making things happen – rather than just talking about it. Good leaders initiate change that is sensible and appropriate, they help others to see the sense of direction and embrace changes that keep the Movement alive and relevant. In today’s fast moving world, standing still is the best way of going backwards.
The challenges that face Scouting
Right now, Scouting is enjoying a great period of growth. Many people have worked very hard for this – it didn’t just happen by accident. If we believe that our work with young people is important (and I certainly think that it is) then we have to ensure that we can continue to grow so that we can provide Scouting to even more young people.
We face a number of challenges in this: the very fact that we are growing is a challenge as we meet the demand for Scouting in more places and from more people; but also the changing world around us is a challenge as new legislation affects us and new generations of young people come along with different ideas and expectations.
To meet these challenges it seems to me that we need to ensure that we provide good leadership in all parts of the Movement. Leadership that provides a sense of direction, embraces change and, above all else, achieves results.
Over to you
If I was asked to define good leadership in Scouting then I think I’d say something like 'a person who has a vision, gets on well with people and encourages others to make changes to improve Scouting.' How would you define good leadership in Scouting?
When you find that you have a few moments on your hands, you might think about good leaders that you have known and work out what it was that made them good. Please share your ideas on good leadership in the Movement so that we can all learn from them.
As a final thought, can you imagine how brilliant our Scouting would be if we did just half the things that we think other leaders should do?
Comments
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By Clive Dunn
on 19/08/2010 12:32 Another thought provoking piece Tim ...
A leader's role can vary greatly and be effective in small, yet extremely powerful ways. For me, thinking about what and who influenced myself I recall my scout leader too and also my father.
I think the qualities of a leader are:
Someone who listens summarises, and helps makes things clearer.
A coach, encouraging others to develop and grow.
One who delegates and helps other members apply their talents and interest on the journey. (In my District we are on a journey from Good to Great as we seek to improve)
An initiator, who gets things moving.
A manager that helps coordinate and keeps a watching eye on progress.
A mediator and problem solver who helps resolves differences.
A net-worker connecting with people and ideas to move forward.
A visionary, to see creative solutions, new directions and possibilities.
A facilitator helping to set goals, make decisions, direct, and evaluate.
Clive Dunn D.C Nuneaton
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By Tim Kidd
on 19/08/2010 21:36 Hi Clive,
I like the idea of "being on a journey from Good to Great". I think that all good Scouting is about being on a journey and learning on the way. I wish you and your District the very best in the journey - being a District Commissioner is at times one of the hardest leadership positions in the Movement.
Keep smiling and good luck!
Tim.
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By Mike Lord
on 19/08/2010 22:48 I never imagined that more than 30 years on our efforts as young leaders would be recognised in a blog by one of our kids (a pretty successful Patrol Leader I might add) as Chief Commissioner for England. Well done Tim!
I hadn't really made a connection before, but Tim's piece sort of reminds me of 'the butterfly effect' and got me thinking about what influenced me as a youngster. Aside from my parents of course, pretty much at the top of the list would be my own Scout Leaders - Skip, Mrs Skip and Curly. I'm certain that any qualities I had as a leader were encouraged if not stemmed from my experiences as APL and PL under their leadership. And the chain continues, clearly Tim is doing a lot of influencing himself!
So keep up the good work, with the realisation that your hard work may shape more than you realise.
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By Adrian Full, ESL Night Hawks ESU, Mid Wilts
on 20/08/2010 17:34 Good leadership is being there when the YP need you, but being able to step back when they are successfully making their own way. Watching their fun and excitement can be so rewarding; but the hardest part of leadership is knowing when to step in. I hate to see the YP fail at something, but so long as they are safe doing so they sometimes need to "fail" in order to learn - but "fail" here means 'not achieve the intended outcome', it certainly doesn't mean "fail" in black & white terms.
Being accepted by the YP and invited to join in an activity on their terms is a sure sign of good leadership, and is a huge reward.
"Leader" or "Guide"? Certainly with Explorers I see my role much more as a guide for them than as a leader.
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By Frazer Mountford
on 21/08/2010 15:08 In a nutshell a good leader is someone who enables someone to do something, perhaps its something that they haven't done before, or something that they want to do again but better, give them the right tools, reassurance and training.
That is how we move forward and make the most of people, if we unecessarily prevent people from doing things Scouting falls to pieces very quickly, I have seen it happen.
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By steve altria
on 22/08/2010 17:54 What distinguishes management from Leadership is when a crisis occurs- then Leaders lead - so why are we irritangly so frequently referred to managers in Scouting speak these days. Lets go stick with Leaders please.
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By Gordon Weston
on 23/08/2010 23:20 I believe that Tim's definition of good leadership is excellent but I think that there are a couple of points that I would add...
I believe that good leadership is demonstrated by those who embrace change readily and understand the limits of what they can and can't do.
Over the past few years, as an Association, we have got far better at both accepting and managing change and I believe that this is key to our ongoing success.
These days all of us are far more accepting that things aren't going to remain the same and even if we have a private grumble, get on and deal with the issue.
In my experience the best leaders are those who are pragmatic and understand the difference between things that they can influence and those things that they would like to change , but in all reality can't.
What these leaders invariably do is put majority of their effort into the things that they can influence, change or implement easily and ensure that far less energy is focused on those things that don't fall into this category. It doesn't mean they don't make their feelings known - they do - but their energy is used on those things that really make a difference for both the young people and adults that they work with.
Surprisingly this approach works well. Friends and colleagues see that they are effective and people enjoy working with them because they get things done. They are then more inclined to listen to their views about the other issues which means they then have a far greater influence on a braoader range of subjects.
Fascinating - but it does work, give it a try!
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By Tim Kidd
on 24/08/2010 21:40 Hi Steve
Many thanks for your comment. It is a good item to debate.
I think though that it really is time for us to recognise that most of our Commissioner appointments spend their time managing people and resources. When BP first used the term "Commissioner" back in the early 1900s it normally meant "the chief officer of a colonial territory" (who must have spent most of the time managing people of course).
I like to think that if BP had invented Scouting in 2010 he would have used the current term - "manager" - for those positions.
Irrespective of what we are called, let's be clear that many of our Commissioners spend their time undertaking great management activities and let's be proud of what we do!
Tim.
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By Dave Moorcroft
on 24/08/2010 23:44 In my eyes, good leaderhsip isn't about active leadership at all!
It's about knowing when to step back and let young people take the lead! I take a very laizzez-faire attitude to being a scout leader and allow my young people to make the majority of the decisions.
Being a leader within the scout association is not about being a teacher - it's about empowering young people to have their say and develop their own leadership skills!
Some of the best nights that have been run at my troop have been entirely run by young people - with me just hovering in the background ready to step in when occasionally needed!
Being a scout leader is about always finding a way to say "YES" to the most challenging of requests!
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By Woggle
on 25/08/2010 12:29 I think a good leader of adults needs to communicate with the people they are leading [not just email them, but speaking to them and listening to them]. Something that doesn't happen in our district. We have a dictatorial leadership style at District and GSL level.
With regard to leading Young People, on one of my wood badge training courses many years ago the tutor said "We are merely the catalyst in the situation" and that is something I have tried to do, let the YP 'have a go' and only prompt them when necessary [safety permitting]
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By Stephen Knowles GSL 218th Birmingham Woodgate Pioneers Scout Group
on 02/09/2010 12:39 Leadership is ensuring that each child and adult in your care has the opportunity to have their say, be supported and more importantly, for their opinions to be valued. At the end of the day, a Scout Group is a team that works together to offer the most enjoyable activities for its members as possible.
Leaders must never lose sight of that objective.
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