Wannabe or Real Leader?

August 30, 2014

You know the difference between a wannabe (want-to-be, get it?) leader and a real leader? Just watch them in action, it’s easy to tell! A wannabe loves giving orders, being in the spotlight, takes all the praise, has all the privileges, and makes everyone else do the tough work. A real leader expects a lot from his team but expects twice as much from himself. A real leader gives his Scouts all the praise, privileges and rewards. A wannabe only gives orders and only cares about results. A wannabe isn’t a leader, leaders are out in front making things happen. A wannabe is a pusher, shoving everyone else along rather than leading them. A wannabe kills Patrol Spirit. A real leader cares about people and does everything in his power to be supportive and encouraging.

Instead of pushing the hardest jobs off on someone else, he is the first to volunteer for them. A real leader builds Patrol Spirit.

There are times a Patrol Leader has to be firm and put their foot down. A wannabe thinks this is their right just because they have a title, a real leader knows they first must earn the trust of their Scouts. You earn respect and trust when your Patrol knows you are willing to do anything and everything possible for them. A real leader doesn’t have to order Scouts to do anything – all he needs to do is ask them to help the team.

Delegating is a skill of a real leader, not a wannabe.

People obey a wannabe only because they’re afraid of what will happen if they don’t.

People follow a real leader when it’s ‘all for one and one for all”!

I can’t really say it any better than these two paragraphs written over fifty years ago: “When a Patrol Leader delegates authority to a member of his Patrol, he should leave him alone to get on with the job and not interfere with the way it is being done. If more speed or effort is required, it should be suggested by way of encouragement and not by needling or grumbling. This is sometimes a very difficult lesson to learn, especially as boys seldom do a job in exactly the same way.

Although a job may be delegated, the responsibility for it still rests with the Patrol Leader, just as a Captain is always responsible for his ship, no matter who is on the bridge. When delegating authority, the Patrol Leader should be reasonably sure that the person delegated is competent to fulfill the task requested of him and that instructions for carrying it out are clear.” - Golden Arrow Patrol Leader Training, 1960 Do you have to order your Scouts around, or can you just ask them? What is the hardest part of delegation?