RE: [Philmont]: Crew Leader

We have used the "crew leader for a day" approach on out training hikes to
date, for two reasons:
1. It gave each boy an opportunity to show their stuff as a leader; and
2. It gave each boy the opportunity to see how hard it is to be a leader,
and how important it is for the crew members to support the leader, whoever
that may be.

However, after our hike this weekend, the boys will be selecting the crew
leader for the trek itself, and the rotation of leadership will end.

To my way of thinking, consistency and continuity are very important in any
team effort, especially one that extends over a significant period of time,
and where every day-to-day detail both revolves around and impacts on the
team. If the leadership, and hence the rules of operation, change on a
daily basis, the team never gets a chance to develop routines and systems
for doing things. The team doesn't get a chance to learn how to do things
better (just different), and the crew leader never gets a chance to learn
and grow, either.

In other words, it is better to have a less than ideal crew leader through
the entire trek (and every boy is going to have flaws) than to change
leadership, rules and routines every 24 hours. When all is said and done,
you aren't doing the crew, or the crew members, any favors by rotating
leaders.

Dan Bestul
Advisor
Crew 812-A

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Received on Tue Apr 8 15:50:36 2003