The Best Leaders

As for the best leaders, the people do not notice their existence. The next best, the people honor and praise. The next, the people fear; and the next, the people hate. …When the best leader’s work is done the people say, ‘We did it ourselves!’ To lead the people , walk behind them. - Lao Tzu Every good leader looks for a chance to delegate authority in important matters. A real leader delegates as many important matters as he can because that creates a climate in which people grow. A Scoutmaster must value the decisions and autonomy of youth leaders and maintain the proper balance of advice and control between youth and adult leadership.

Stand at the back of the room and watch the scouts lead, let them do it themselves.

Advise, mentor and guide them afterwords.

Delegate work that is whole and important. If it works they get the reward, if it doesn’t you divert as much of the blame from them to yourself as possible. The next time they will do better . Once they own the authority, the responsibility and the credit and you wonder why you are even there you have succeeded as a Scoutmaster.