Transition from Adult to Youth Leadership - Asking Questions

Now that you are an observer rather than a participant, a listener rather than a talker, a coach rather than a player your observations will reveal strengths and weaknesses in the way things are done and those that are doing them. The way you share this information is vitally important. Most of us default to telling others what we think. This economical, direct and effective way to communicate ideas or directions is important but it is not always the most beneficial method for Scoutmasters. Our job is to encourage critical thinking, to sharpen the skills of our Scouts and to encourage them to lead.

Often we can best accomplish this by asking questions that allow them to discover things on their own. Let’s say you have observed a chaotic and, to you at least, poorly run game during a Troop meeting.

After the meeting you speak to the SPL: SM – So what was going on with the game this evening? SPL – We were trying to play this new game but nobody was cooperating. SM – Why do you think that was? SPL – Well it was new and Mark was trying to run it and it just didn’t seem to work. SM – What did you do to fix it? SPL – Nothing really, we just kind of let it go. SM – Was Mark prepared to conduct the game – had he tried it out before? SPL – Oh no, he just kind of invented it on the spot. SM – Do you think that approach worked well? SPL – It was kind of a mess but it was actually kind of fun too – Mark took it well. SM – Would you want to do that every week? SPL – Not really. It was so disorganized. SM – So how do you prevent that happening in the future?

Where before I would have stepped in and tried to fix the game as soon as I saw it, or more likely would have been running it myself, I did not interfere. If the Scouts had been pummeling each other with sticks I would have stopped it immediately, but they weren’t.

Through questioning the SPL has the opportunity to think about the problem and invent a solution. The Scoutmaster has the opportunity to listen and learn – the game was chaotic but the Scouts kind of enjoyed it anyway. Does this type of thing drive me crazy? Sure it does but the Troop meeting and its various elements are not mine to control.

I have to maintain my focus on mentoring and coaching my Scouts towards discovering and applying their skills, not taking their responsibilities away. This is one in a series of posts about Transitioning From Adult to Youth Leadership: Introduction Starting the Transition What Really Matters The Patrol Leader’s Council