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The
Patrol Leader's job is hard sometimes. There are all the scouts to
be called, agendas to make up, planning to be done. You need to
check how a scout is doing on his advancement, you need to organize
for two tenderfoot scouts to get their flag ceremony signed
off,..... How can you find the time, when you have a big test
coming up and you should be at basketball practice?
You don't have to do it all yourself! As
a matter of fact, you shouldn't do it all yourself. You have at
least three teams to work with; teams that can help you get
everything done.
Your
closest team is you and your Assistant Patrol Leader. If the
two of you share the jobs, the responsibility (and the glory), you
have already cut the job almost in half. Not only that, you have
started training your Assistant Patrol Leader for your job when
that time comes. After all, you want your patrol to have the
best Patrol Leader when you are done, right? Also, if you can't
make it to something, you can feel confident that your teammate
knows what to do, and the patrol will be ok..
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Another close team is your patrol.
All of them want to be doing something; nobody really likes doing
nothing. Maybe they can't all do every job that needs doing, but
every one of them can do something to help. That's what leadership
is all about, - getting more accomplished that you can do by
yourself. Figure out what each of them can do, and give him a shot
at it. They will feel much more responsible for the patrol if they
help make things happen.
Your third
team (the Troop staff and adult leaders) can be used for the
really tough jobs. If you are really struggling with something, ask
for help. Nobody is going to think you are stupid for asking for
help. Not asking when you need it, - now that's stupid. And it
doesn't have to be a big thing; sometimes a little thing can really
bother you and get in the way of your success. This team will also
check with you every now and then, to see if everything is going
OK. Tell them how it is, don't try to be macho and keep problems to
yourself.
So you see, even if it is a tough job,
you're not alone in this. Practice working with your teams, even if
you could do it yourself. Your job will be easier, you will start
training others, and everyone will have a bigger part of your
patrol.
Not a bad result!
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Troop