The Pace of Leadership

As we have for the past several years our Troop participated in the local Memorial Day parade. As I was walking along the parade route a couple of ideas came to mind that help define our place as Scoutmasters.

Three adults walked behind the Scouts this year. We adults don’t wear our uniforms for this, we wear a troop tee shirt.

Before you tell me why this is wrong allow me to explain; this is one of the most publicly visible things that we do as a Troop and the most common public misconception of Scouting is that adults are in charge. It seemed to us that the Scouts out front in uniform and us in a less visible support role was an accurate public presentation of how the program really works. So there we were, walking behind our Scouts, carrying water for them both literally and figuratively, while they carried the flags forward, called the cadence, and led themselves. An occasional expression of encouragement or advice was all that was needed. We adults wear our uniforms with pride, we are glad to be associated with our Scouts in particular and Scouting in general. We were even more proud to walk behind them as inconspicuously as possible and watch them lead themselves. I’ve quoted Lao Tzu’s thought on leadership several times over the years on the blog but it bears repeating: The Leader is best when people are hardly aware of his existence, Not so good when people praise his government Less good when people stand in fear, Worst, when people are contemptuous. Fail to honor people, and they will fail to honor you. But of a good leader, who speaks little When his work is done, his aim fulfilled, The people say, ‘We did it ourselves.’