Eleven Skills of Leadership
Communication involves several factors: receiving, storing, retrieving,
giving, and interpreting information. It is important that members of a group communicate
freely with each other. Exchange of information often involves a "transaction,"
a stimulus followed by a response. It's important that these transactions be kept open or
complementary. Crossed or blocked transactions result in people talking at one another
with no real communication. As a result, information is not exchanged.
Information is received through hearing, seeing, feeling, tasting, and smelling. Obviously
we receive information by reading what is written or listening to what is said---and we
often do a poor job of these. We also receive powerful messages through facial
expressions, body language, an individual's general appearance, costume, etc.The more ways
we use to gather information, the better the information is received, understood. and put
to use.
Most people store the information they receive in their memories. The memory can be
supported with notes, sketches, written references, and similar techniques.
Retrieving or recalling information is important. It often is closely related to how the
information is stored. People known for outstanding memories have simply developed an
effective retrieval system. This can include memorizing using memory joggers, repeating
the information as it is received, taking notes, and skillful use of references.
Giving information involves the same five senses used to receive it. In giving
information, however, speaking or writing clearly, using visual methods, watching and
being sensitive to the group, asking for feedback. and summarizing what has been given
results in an effective transfer of information.
Interpreting information is vital. In many cases the information was given and received,
but somehow communication did not result. Blocks to communication include motivation (one
of the two parties didn't think the information was important), conflict (two messages
didn't agree), experience (your own back ground or prejudices cause you not to accept what
is said), personal dislike (you dislike the other person so you filter out what he or she
says), distractions (you don't receive because something else is on your mind or something
distracts you), and attitude (you think you already know all about the topic).
Most people learn approximately 11 percent of what they know by listening, but 83 percent
of what they know by seeing (observing and reading). People recall 20 percent of what they
heard but can recall 50 percent of what they both heard and saw. Thus a
"multimedia" approach to communicating is vital.
Clear communication is essential. Avoid initials, acronyms. technical jargon, and
unfamiliar words in communicating with others. The success of establishing and maintaining
a group will depend largely on how well its members communicate with each other and with
those outside the group.
Knowing
and Using Resources
To establish a group, you must know what you have to work with. Two types of resources can
be used-those available to the group and those available from within the group's own
members.
Resources available to a Scouting group can come from literature and books, members of the
chartered organization, parents and friends of members, local businesses, community
organizations and services, and programs of the local Scouting council and its districts.
An inventory of these outside resources is a valuable tool for the Scouting leader. A
formal listing might be helpful, but the same results often can be obtained by simply
asking the question, "What do I need and where can I get it?" The more people
doing this type of thinking, the more resources will appear.
Usually the resources available within the group are greater than any individual member is
likely to perceive. The Personal Resource Questionnaire filled out by each group member is
a way to begin. Each member of the group lists some facts about his or her background,
attitudes, and abilities. The questionnaires are shared and group members quiz each other
to expand on what has been noted. This almost always triggers additional resources, which
are then listed.
Members are next urged to share what they consider to be "meaningful
experiences"-things they have done that would be considered successes. Members of the
group look for resources in the successes each has experienced. All discussions must be
positive-no negative statements are allowed.
As members see the resources available to the group and from within the group, they gain a
better understanding of each other and the potential for what the group can achieve.
Understanding the Characteristics and Needs of the Group and Its
Members
For our purposes, a characteristic is "a trait, quality, or property distinguishing
an individual, group, or type." A need is "a want, a requirement, feeling the
lack of something that would be useful." The characteristics and needs of youth can
vary widely from one person to the next. They often depend on the young person's
background in the home, school, church, and other organizations as well as the particular
situation at the moment.
Each member of a group has some important needs. At the basic level is the need for food,
water, shelter, and warmth. The next level involves the need for safety and security. Next
is the need for friends, association with others, interpersonal relationships, order, and
a feeling of belonging. At the fourth level, needs include recognition, self-respect,
independence, and esteem. The final level involves the need for self-fulfillment,
confidence, achievement, and growth to the individual's full potential.
Recognizing these needs and how well they are met will often explain the characteristics
of the members of the group. If one level of needs has been some what met, then other
needs emerge as dominant. For instance, a boy from an unstable family in a poverty
stricken urban neighborhood beset with street crime may respond quite differently than one
from a stable and loving middle income family residing in a safe suburb. A relationship
between observed characteristics and the true needs of an individual may be misleading,
however. The seemingly self-assured individual might in fact be playing a role in an
attempt to feel secure. On the other hand, the quiet and reserved person might be so
self-confident that he or she sees no need to attract attention.
Planning
Effective planning is usually the result of seven specific steps.
1. Consider the task. This involves what has to be done, who does what,
when, where, and how.
2. Consider the resources. What time is available? What are the skills of
the group? What equipment and supplies are needed and available? What other items should
be considered?
3. Consider alternatives. What happens if something goes wrong? What are
the emergency procedures? What is the alternate plan? Could the alternate plan be better
than the original plan?
4. Reach a decision. Who has the responsibility? Is a poor decision
better than no decision? Is no decision a decision? Is a group decision best? A decision
usually is needed at every step in the process.
5. Write down the plan. The act of writing down an action plan may cause
it to be revised or refined. The final plan might need considerable discussion.
6. Put the plan into action. All too often, great plans are formed but
never followed.
7. Evaluate. Evaluation must take place all during this process. As each
step is taken, it is evaluated against the previous steps to assure that the original task
is still being considered.
In many ways, the steps for planning are similar to those for problem solving. Solving a
problem is a type of planning developing a plan is a type of problem solving.Substitute
the word problem for the word task, and the seven steps can be used in either case.
When faced with a specific project to complete or a problem to solve, a process known as
"verbal rehearsal" works well and is easily understood by boys. Here the members
of the group literally "talk it up" as they decide how to approach the project
or problem. As in classic problem-solving, seven steps are involved.
1. What is the problem? A problem is any situation that a group may need
or want to do something about. A clear understanding of the problem. is needed before the
group can set a goal.
2. What's our goal? A goal redefines the problem into a positive
statement that answers the question, "What do we want?" A goal must be important
to the group and must be realistic, not based on wishful thinking. A Seal should require
the group's best effort, and members should feel good after reaching it.
3. Stop and think. Here the group should stop talking and allow each
person to examine the problem and goal before continuing to the next step. Often boys--and
adults--take the first suggestion that is offered and jump directly into action. If group
members take a few moments to think and form their ideas. they will be able to add some
original thought to a plan to be followed.
4. Make a plan. A good planner is always looking for options. The ability
to think of a large number of possible pathways to reach a goal is an important skill.
"What happens if... ?" examines the consequences of a particular course of
action. For each alternative there are pros and cons. Once the alternatives and
consequences have been discussed, a decision is made on a start-to-finish plan.
5. Do it. Action must follow the planning. if the group has discussed the
plan in enough detail, each member will know how to proceed.
6. Keep at it. Nothing worthy of achieving is gained without endurance.
The group must recognize that before a plan is abandoned, sustained effort is needed.
Sometimes only a small adjustment in the plan is required to make it work.
7. How did it go? Was the goal attained? Did we give our best effort?
What might have been changed? It is important to evaluate the entire problem-solving
process so that the result will be a better plan next time.
Controlling
Group Performance
Controlling group performance is an important but often misunderstood function of
leadership. To some, control implies that a whip-cracking boss is in charge. Good control
is far more subtle.
A group needs control to keep its members moving in the same direction for best results.
If a plan is to be properly carried out, someone must direct the effort. Controlling is a
function that the group consciously or unconsciously assigns to the leader in order to get
the job done. Skillful control is welcomed by the group. The expression "Come on, you
guys, let's get our act together" is a plea for someone to take charge and bring the
group under control.
Control of group performance involves six basic operations.
1. Observing. The leader should be in a position to see the group,
communicate with its members, and be available, but not appear to dominate. Coed work is
praised. Suggestions, rather than orders, are given for improvements.
2. Instructing. The leader must often give instructions as the work
proceeds and the situation changes. The leader must communicate well, apply the skill of
effective teaching, and allow members to use their own initiative. As long as the work is
progressing well, the leader should not intrude.
3. Helping. When a group has decided that it wants to perform a task, the
leader must help the members be successful. The leader does a good job personally, takes a
positive approach, and gives a helping hand when needed. Care is taken to see that an
offer to help is not implied criticism.
4. Inspecting. The leader must know what to expect to see. The leader
should know the plan and the skills involved. A checklist is valuable. If the work is not
correct, the worker is led to the proper performance of the task. Again, a positive
approach with helpful suggestions for improvement is vital.
5. Reacting. How the leader reacts to the efforts of the group is
important. Praise the person if the work is good, but the praise must be sincere. If the
work is not correct, praise the parts that were done well and accept responsibility for
work not done well. A reaction such as "Gosh, I guess I didn't explain it very
well" doesn't hurt the leader but makes the person feel good about corrections that
are suggested. React to the total job--do not focus on obvious weak points.
6. Setting the example. The most effective way of controlling group
performance is the personal example of the leader. How the leader observes, instructs,
helps, inspects, and reacts is vital.
Effective
Teaching
Effective teaching is a process by which the learning of an individual or a group is
managed or facilitated. Five elements are involved, but these are not necessarily steps in
a sequence.
1. Learning objectives. Before attempting to teach, it is important to
know what is to be taught. Asking "What should the participants be able to do by the
end of the session?" determines the learning objectives. Learning objectives are
stated in performance terms. To "know," "understand,"
"appreciate," or "value" are slippery words that have no part in good
learning objectives. Learning objectives should clearly state what the individual will be
able to do as a result of the learning experience.
In a structured teaching situation, it is wise to write down the learning objectives as
guidelines to the instructor. The objectives usually will determine the content of the
instruction. In casual situations or "opportunity teaching," the objectives
might not be written but should be clearly in the mind of the instructor.
2. Discovery. A discovery is any sort of happening that has three
results.
Knowledge is confirmed. People discover what they do know. Until then they might not have
been sure. The need to know is established. People discover that they do not know
something they must know if they are to be successful in what they want to do. Motivation
is instilled. Participants discover the desire to learn more.
Sometimes a discovery just happens. An alert leader can turn this happening into a
learning experience. This is referred to as "opportunity teaching." In more
structured teaching, an instructor often will set up a discovery as the introduction to a
learning activity. A discovery can be simply a leading question, or more complicated as in
dramatic role-playing.
3. Teaching-learning. Once the discovery has shown what the person
already knows. the instructor has choices to make.
The person knows and can do what is desired. The learning objectives have been met.
Subtract what the person knows from what is desired and work on what the person needs to
know. Give the full instruction session. The participant will learn what he or she needs
to know and will review what is already known.
Teaching involves a variety of communication techniques. We learn principally from hearing
(lecture, discussion, conversation, dramatization), seeing (reading, displays, visual
aids, demonstrations), and doing (trial and error, experimenting, copying the acts of
others). As each task, skill, or idea is broken down into simple steps, the learner can
confirm what he or she now knows, needs to know, and wants to know. Thus, learning is
actually a series of discoveries. Each step should lead to some success--it is important
to keep the person encouraged that progress is being made.
4. Application. Each individual should have an immediate chance to apply
what has been learned. Application must be deferred in some situations, but immediate
application is more desirable.
In attempting to apply what has been learned. another discovery likely will occur, which
leads to new learning objectives, more teaching and learning, and further application.
5. Evaluation. Essentially, evaluation is a review of what happened to
see if the learning objectives were met. In a teaching situation, we are always checking
to see. "Did it work? Do 1 understand? What do I do next?' In effect, the evaluation
itself often becomes another discovery.
Recycling. If evaluation shows that the person has not learned what was
to be taught, there is a need to recycle-teach it again. The approach may be changed, the
steps simplified, or the explanation more detailed, or the learning objectives might need
to be changed.
Research has shown that learning is most effective when it is self-directed. The more
deeply a person can be involved in his or her own learning, the more that individual will
learn and the longer he or she will retain what has been learned. Teach from the point of
view of the student--not the teacher. Be sure that personal objectives are met before
dealing with organizational objectives. Move from what is known to what is unknown. from
what is simple to what is more complex.
It is important to note that the five elements of effective teaching are not necessarily a
series of steps,each to be completed before the next is attempted. Rather, these elements
are a mix of factors that can be used to plan a learning experience or evaluate its worth.
The five elements are not a lockstep process through which one marches in a training
experience. Training must flow and stay flexible to meet the needs of participants.
Representing
the Group
With a knowledge of resources, skill in communicating, and an understanding of the
characteristics and needs of the group and its members, the leader is prepared to
represent the group.
Some steps are involved in representation. Before representing the group, it is important
to get all of the facts available, decide on the nature of the situation, determine the
group's reaction, and make mental or written notes. When representing the group to a third
party, it is vital to give the facts give the group's reaction, feelings, and position
respect opinions of other groups dealing with the third party consider personality
problems and again make mental or written notes.
Then the third party's decision, attitude, or actions must be represented back to the
group. Here it is important to again present the facts, explain the decision, and
thoroughly represent the third party's attitude and opinion.
As a leader represents the group to the "outside world," the group begins to
develop its own attitude, identity, and direction. The role of the patrol leader in
sharing the interests and:desires of the patrol to the patrol leaders' council--and
carrying out the decisions of the patrol leaders' council with the patrol members--is a
classic example of representing a group in Scouting.
Evaluating
When a program or project has been completed, it is important to find out how well the
objectives-were met and if improvements can be made for the future. An evaluation should
reflect two dimensions of the project--its effect on the total group and its effect on
each individual member.
Six simple questions can be used to evaluate almost any project or program. The first
three questions relate to the group's success in carrying out the project, while the
second three questions relate to individual group members.
1. Did the job get done?
2. Was it done right?
3. Was it done on time?
4. Did everybody take part?
5. Did they enjoy themselves?
6. Do they want more?
An evaluation as soon as an event or activity ends is a handy measure of the immediate
reaction. Sometimes, however, a more valid evaluation can be made two to three weeks
following the event or activity. In retrospect, the later evaluation may be more valid. It
also is less subject to the enthusiasm of the event and a natural desire to please (or
condemn) the leadership.
Evaluation is a continual process as a project is under way. Here the six questions are
changed somewhat.
1. Are we getting the job done?
2. Are we doing it right?
3. Are we on schedule?
4. Is everybody involved?
5. Are they working well and satisfied with what they're doing?
6. Do they want to continue?
If the answer to any of these questions is no, or if there is any doubt, the leader needs
to take some action.
Much has been written on the styles of leadership and how they are applied in given
situations. Five styles of leadership generally are recognized.
1. Telling(or ordering). The leader alone identifies the problem, makes
the decisions, and directs the activities. The style appears autocratic and may or may not
involve the opinions of the group members.
2. Persuading (or selling). In this style of leadership, the decision
still is made by the leader. Having made the decision, the leader must sell it to the
group to get cooperation.
3. Consulting. Group members participate and provide input. The leader
may suggest a tentative decision or plan and get the group's reaction. Having consulted
the group, the-leader still makes the final decision, usually based on group consensus. If
consensus can not be reached, the group is encouraged to note and follow the desires of
the majority.
4. Delegating. The leader identifies the problem, sets certain
guidelines, boundaries, or rules, and then turns the problem over to the group or one of
its members. The leader accepts the decision of the group if it falls within the
boundaries and guidelines established. While authority may be delegated, the
responsibility must remain with the leader.
5. Joining. The leader steps down as leader and joins the group. The
leader agrees in advance to abide by the group's decisions. It is important to remember
that joining the group is still leadership. Before deciding to use this style, the leader
must carefully consider the resources of the group and, if necessary, change to a more
direct leadership style.
No single leadership style is "best." Each depends on the situation, experience
of the group members, and tasks to be done. As leadership styles move from telling to
joining, the leader's authority appears to diminish and the group's participation
increases. Selecting the appropriate style of leadership is an act of leadership based on
the nature of the situation and the ability and experience of the group members.
Leadership is a dynamic process, varying from situation to situation with changes in
leaders, followers, goals, and circumstances.
Counseling in one form or another goes on constantly as the leader works with the
members of the group. Counseling can be used to encourage or reassure an individual, to
develop a more effective member of the group, or to help solve a specific problem.
Counseling is helpful when a person needs encouragement, should have more information
bearing on his or her task, needs help in interpreting facts, or is uncertain about what
to do, or the leader feels the need to correct a situation.
The counselor first must find out that there is, in fact, a needier counseling. The
counselor must recognize that no two counseling situations are alike that each person is
different, and each problem is different. There are no pat solutions.
There are six keys to good counseling.
1. Listen carefully. Give undivided attention to what the person is
saying.
2. Ask yourself, "Do I understand what this person is trying to say?"
3. Summarize frequently to assure understanding, keep on the track, and check what is
being told.
4. Additional information might be all that is needed. The person might not have all of
the facts, or might not know all of the resources available. The counselor must be sure to
give information, not advice.
5. The person must be encouraged to think of different ways of handling the problem. The
individual has the problem, has thought about it in greater detail than the counselor, and
might have arrived at a solution. He or she might only be seeking confirmation of that
solution.
6. Above all, the counselor must not give advice. The objective of counseling is to lead
the individual to his or her own solution.
A general rule in effective counseling is to keep the individual talking. Many counseling
sessions fail when the counselor attempts to arrive at a Solution before the individual
has finished telling the complete problem. Use "trigger words" to keep the
person talking. Phrases like'What did you do then?" or "How did that make you
feel?" can bring out more details. Words of sympathy or understanding such as
"Wow," "Oh my," or "That's a shame" are helpful. Only when
the individual begins to repeat himself or herself will additional information be of
value.
Some counseling sessions uncover problems that are serious and might require professional
help. The Scouter involved in counseling must consider his or her efforts as "first
aid' to a young person with obvious and serious problems. Be careful not to counsel above
your abilities. Our objective is to help youngsters the best we can--not to become amateur
psychologists. The leader should be prepared to refer a troubled young person to a
competent professional in this field if it appears necessary.
The most persuasive Leadership skill is the personal example of the leader. A good
leader sets a positive example in these ways:
1. Following instructions. Following instructions, obeying the law, and
carrying out tasks in the recommended manner points out that rules and procedures are
important.
2. Trying hard. The leader must work as hard as--if not harder than--any
member of the group. Leadership by direction is not as effective as leadership by example.
3. Showing initiative. A good leader must do what has to be done without
waiting to be told or forced to act. An effective leader respects the good suggestions of
the group members and encourages each person to show initiative.
4. Acting with maturity. An effective leader shows good judgment. The
group members see that the leader's personal behavior is directed toward accomplishing the
task.
5. Knowing the job. Generally, a leader should have a mastery of the
skills to be used. If not, the leader must apply the resources of the group toward
achieving the task.
6. Keeping a positive attitude. A positive attitude is vital as an
example to group members. The leader's personal frustration or discouragement should never
be apparent. Failure should be considered a potential learning experience. Enthusiasm is
contagious.
Role models are an important method in Boy Scouting. This applies not only to adults, but
also to youth leaders. Boys often will copy the actions and behaviors of leaders they like
and admire. Boys will literally walk, talk, and act as the example set by the adult and
youth leaders of the troop.