Is there
anything more frustrating and difficult than when you are asked to do something
and have no idea just what is expected.
I believe we should always give more to the job than what is expected of
us, however, if we do not know the expectations,
to begin with, how can we do more?
Scouts face this problem as well. They desire and promise to give their
best to whatever they do. That is hard to fulfill when you are not clear on
just what it is you are doing.
Scouting is a boy lead program. That means that young people are the ones
giving out the tasks and setting their expectations. If an adult forgets to be
clear on just what needs to be done, how do we expect young people to be clear? This lesson must be taught to the
Scouts. Leadership is an important lesson in Scouting. Leadership, for Scouts,
adults and everyone in between is not about position or title. Leadership is
all about knowing how to lead others.
“A boy carries out suggestions more wholeheartedly when he understands
their aim.”
– Sir Robert Baden-Powell
(1857-1941)
Founder of
the Boy Scouts
Whether you are delegating a task or have a task delegated to you, here
are four keys that will help the task to be done, done quickly, and done well.
Key #1. What is it needs to be
done?
Be clear about just what the
task that needs to be done is. General
terms might help you by telling others to
get a job done, however, it does not help them.
Clarity will also help prevent someone from doing the wrong task. Let's say that the request is that your staff
provide better customer service. What
exactly needs to be done? Is it that
they need to be more pleasant and helpful?
Do they need to have better results in making the customer happy? In what area do they need to improve and in
what are they strong.
When working toward a new rank
in Scouting, the Scout is told just what they need to do to achieve their goal.
One of the helpful tools they have, and one of
those in business can use as well, is the Scout Handbook. In the book (or
manual if you prefer) is a clear description of what is expected and how to
reach those expectations. In business, many companies have employee manuals
that will clearly define the task that the worker must perform. If you do not
have such a manual, you should create one.
Key #2. Why are they doing it?
Let me state clearly here,
"Because I said so" is not an answer.
When people understand why they are doing a task they will not only do
it better but will enjoy the process more.
When I worked for a major outdoor museum, one of the things that were expected of the staff, from the president
down to the ticket takers, was to pick you all trash they saw on the ground always. It was made clear to all, that by doing so we
heightened the visitor's experience and we looked like the high-quality place
we were. Because we all knew this, it
became a habit and everyone gladly took part.
Scouts know that the reason they
follow the Scout Oath and Law is that it will help them to be a better person
and to become a successful person. Scouting is a way of life and to
successfully live that life, you follow the Law and Oath.
Key #3. How is it to be done?
This has a fine line that a good
leader does not wish to cross. It is
good to train and instruct people on how they are expected to do their jobs,
however, you never want to micromanage
your workers. I believe that if you can
help people understand the "why" a task needs to be done, they will
find the best "how" to do it.
People work differently and you should allow them to do things their
way, provided the result is what is expected of
them.
Where all Scouts follow the same
Law and instruction from the handbook, Scouting recognizes that each Scout is
their own person. Each has their own
dreams and desires out of Scouting. Each has
different strengths and weaknesses. Scouting is designed to help each Scout
build on their strengths at a pace that works for them. Each is encouraged to be their best, not the best.
Scouts are not one in a group but one of the group.
Key #4. Who should be doing the
job?
A good worker will not
appreciate going to do a job and find that someone else has already done
it. When you delegate a task, be sure to
give it to one person or one team and make it clear to all whose responsibility
it is. It is also important that you
give tasks to those whose strengths will do the best work. Never set a person or a team up to fail,
always be sure that you are getting the most from people because they have the
most to give.
In Scouting, there are many
positions of responsibility to be filled. Scouts are given a position and shown
how it is to be done. That duty is theirs for as long as they hold that
position. The positions change so the Scout can see what leadership is like in
different areas, however, whatever the position, it is theirs and they are held
to the responsibility to do it.
You matter! You matter to the
world and to yourself. Remember to be
your best, love God, have good manners, achieve the unknown and change your
world.
Scouting Out of Uniform is a personal
blog based on the lessons learned from Scouting that relate to personal
development and success principles and is not an official site of The Boy
Scouts of America. John Patrick Hickey does not represent or speak for the
Scouting program; however, he does completely support and encourages Scouting
for both young and old. John Patrick Hickey is an author, speaker, Personal
Development Coach, and proud Scouter. To
read more from John Patrick Hickey or to get his books, training and book him
to speak to your church, business or group, visit our website at www.johnpatrickhickey.com. © 2019 John Patrick Hickey
No comments:
Post a Comment