LEADERSHIP SKILLS

• UNDERSTANDING THE NEEDS AND
  CHARACTERISTICS OF THE POST

Each individual participant of the group has certain needs and characteristics.
1. A leader should understand his or her own needsand characteristics.
2. A leader should understand the needs and charac- teristics of each participant of the group. This helps the leader to deal with each person as an individua to treat that individual with respect, and to help the person grow.
3. This understanding helps in planning the program and in getting things done.
4. This understanding creates trust and builds confi-dence among group participants.

• COMMUNICATING

To improve your skills in getting information:
• Pay attention and listen carefully.
• Make notes and sketches.
• Ask questions and repeat your understanding of what was said. To improve your skills in giving information:
• Be sure others are listening before you speak.
• Speak slowly and clearly.
• Draw diagrams, if needed. Ask those receiving infor-mation to take notes.
• Have the listeners repeat their understanding of what was said. Encourage questions.

• KNOWING AND USING THE
  RESOURCES OF THE GROUP

• PLANNING

Planning is an important part of everything we do in Exploring. The following is a simple process for
planning:
• Consider the task and objectives. What do you want to accomplish?LEADERSHIP SKILLS 2
• Consider the resources—equipment, knowledge, skills, and attitudes.
• Consider the alternatives. Brainstorm.
• Reach a decision, evaluating each option.
• Write the plan down and review it with the post.
• Execute the plan.
• Evaluate the plan.

• CONTROLLING GROUP PERFORMANCE

Setting the example is the most effective way of con-trolling the group. When working with post participants,
do the following:
• Continually observe the group. Know what is hap-pening and the attitude of the group.
• Make your instructions clear and pertinent.
• Pitch in and help when necessary.
• Quickly deal with disruption. Guide the post toward self-discipline.

• SETTING THE EXAMPLE

Setting the example is probably the most important  leadership skill. It is the most effective way to show others the proper way to conduct themselves, and is even more effective than verbal communication. With-
out this skill, all the other skills will be useless. One way to think about setting the example is to imagine
yourself as part of a group and think about how you would like your leader to act.

• SHARING LEADERSHIP

While there are various ways to exercise leadership, the goal of Exploring leadership is exemplified in a
quote from the ancient Chinese philosopher, Lao-Tzu: “But of a good leader . . . When the work is done, his
aim fulfilled, they will say, ‘We did this ourselves.’ ”

• EVALUATING

Getting the job done—

1. • Was the job done?
2. • Was the job done right?
3. • Was the job done on time?

• COUNSELING

Counseling is important
• To help people solve problems
• To encourage or reassure
• To help an Explorer reach his or her potential Counseling can be effective when a person is
• Undecided—he or she can’t make a decision
• Confused—he or she doesn’t have enough informa-tion or has too much information
• Locked in—he or she doesn’t know any alternatives

• REPRESENTING THE GROUP

The leader represents the post in two situations:
• Without consultation—when he or she doesn’t have
the opportunity to consult with post officers about a
decision
• With consultation—when he or she can meet with
post officers about the issue

• EFFECTIVE TEACHING

The steps of effective teaching include
• Choosing the learning objectives
• Providing a discovery experience that helps the learner understand the need for the skill
• Demonstrating or explaining the skill
• Allowing the learner to practice the skill
• Evaluating the process