WHAT MAKES A GOOD BOY SCOUT LEADER?

As a Scout adult assistant in my church I think how to help young people to learn how to become mature and responsible men and women. Last week I wrote a short list of what traits and skills make any Capo Pattuglia (chief of a 7-9 scout patrol) a good leader.

As I wanted to write these traits, I looked back at my experience in the group over these past 3  years and to my expectations from a leader I'd follow.

What traits has a good Chief Patrol?

1. He has a clear objective - He answers to the questions "Who I am? What do I want? Why am I here? What kind of person I want to become?" - During activities, and in his life, he knows where he wants to go.
2. He is reliable, he is careful toward others, he is accountable over his actions and his group's ones.
3. He is generous by giving, he prefers to give than to receive - He keeps to himself less credit for an achievement and more share of fault for a failure.
4. He cares for others, mostly the youngers and more vulnerable ones - For example, he ties shoes, give away his meal, encourage who is tired - He treats others the way he wants to be treated.
5. He can discipline himself and keep his needs under control (hunger fatigue) - He identify his own feelings (anger sadness joy fear) and he can express them - He breaths when he's afraid or angry, counts to 5, thinks what to do then acts - He cries.
6. He teaches things to others, skills, tecniques, jokes, he tells stories - He holds the group together - He teaches specialty, pushes to improve, helps others being accountable.
7. He loves everyone the same way, he corrects everyone the same way, he does not have preferences.
8. He learns from the best - He keeps an eye on other Chiefs and on any skilled and effective person, finds the best and apply that in his life.
9. He is humble, asks for forgiveness, he seeks advices - He learn from achievements and mistakes - He fails.
10. He can communicate in a clear concise and effective way - He delegates tasks and gives responsabilities to others - He explains strategies, visions, objectives, rules of the games and of life - He motivates to action and inspire others.
11. He knows when to be serious and when to joke (when mission is accomplished).
12. During time of difficulties he keeps himself focused, resolute and secure to the objective - He doesn't let secondary problems disctract him, he doesn't get discouraged, he prays, trust God, others scouts and his chiefs.
13. Everything he does, he does it as a group, not by himself - He asks for help, to topographer, knots-master, strategist, counselor.
14. He has courage, vision, accepts (calculated) risks - He takes initiative, keeps going forward - He talks face-to-face and to his superiors - He is decisive - He wins over his fears knowing that to achieve an objective you need to risk what you have.
15. He looks after for ideas and collaboration with other chiefs patrol - He seeks solutions and participates in projects, outgoings or ideas' organization.
16. He has fun and is fun.

Of course one can agree with some traits and not with others. The question is, even if you know you will fail at some rules, do you want to be a better Chief Patrol? Or a better Leader of your life, family, business or country? You decide.

"If you want something you've never had, you must be willing to do something you've never done." (T. Jefferson)

"True humility is not thinking less of yourself; it is thinking of yourself less." (C. S. Lewis)

"It is absurd that a man should rule others, if he cannot rule himself." (Latin proverb)

"When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, 'I used everything you gave me'." (E. Bombeck)