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May 11, 2007
Leadership or Management?
Do you sometimes get confused about the difference between
leadership and management? I know I do. I see the two as different
but very much linked together in may situations. Leaders also
need to manage others on occasion. Managers, on occasion, also
show leadership.
The link below is to an article "Leadership Defined: Web
Images Reveal the Differences between Leadership and Management" written
by Richard H.G. Field of the School of Business, University
of Alberta in 2002. The Abstract of the paper states, "An interpretive
and unobtrusive study of the differences between management
and leadership was conducted by comparing 187 leadership
images captured from the web to 186 management images. These
results from the general public agree with those from the business
press and academic literature that management and leadership
are different. Leadership was found to be about taking action
and communicating values in the context of a relationship.
It was not about reinforcing the status quo and the reliance
on hierarchy."
I found this comparison of leadership and management very
interesting. This may be of little interest to you or you
may find value in the
comparison
of the two functions as you look at your personal leadership
responsibilities in Scouting. You may also find this comparison
will shed light on how others function in their leadership
roles. Focus on the descriptions listed under the titles of
Leaders and Managers.
Take a close look at how the
two
look at or approach things
differently. Do your leaders exhibit more of the behavioral
traits associated with Leaders or Managers?
The
following table is taken from the article.
Table 1 summarizes differences seen between leaders
and managers by writers focusing on the conceptual or
practical. It can be seen that there is general agreement
that leadership and management are different. But there
is still a good deal of variation between the definitions
given by different authors for leadership or management.
Author(s)
Focus
Leaders
Managers
Bennis & Nanus (1985)
Conceptual
do the right things
people as great assets
commitment
outcomes
what and why things could be done
sharing information
networks
do things right
people as liabilities
control
rules
how things should be done
compliance
secrecy
formal authority (hierarchy)
Czarniawska-Joerges & Wolff
(1991)
Conceptual
Symbolic performance, expressing
the hope of control over destiny
Introducing order by coordinating
flows of things and people toward collective action
Spreitzer & Quinn (1996)
Conceptual
Transformational
Transactional
Zaleznik (1977, 1992)
Practical
Energize the system, their working
environment is often chaotic
Ensure the stability of the system
McConkey (1989)
Practical
Provide proper conditions for
the people to manage themselves.
Concerned with controlling conditions
and others.
McConnell (1994)
Practical
Vision, inspiration, courage,
human relationships, profound knowledge.
Allocate resources, design work
methods, create procedures, set objectives and create
priorities.
Buhler (1995)
Practical
Give people purpose, push the
boundaries, need vision and ability to articulate
it.
Accomplish work through others,
follow the rules, rely on legitimate power.
Sanborn (1996)
Practical
Create change and ensure that
others embrace it. The word lead means to go from – leaders
tend to take their followers from one place to another.
Change when they have to. The
word manage means to handle.
Fagiano (1997)
Practical
Help others do the things they
know need to be done to achieve a common vision.
Get things done through other
people.
Sharma (1997)
Practical
Innovation
Conformity
Maccoby (2000)
Practical
Leadership is a relationship – selecting,
motivating, coaching, building trust.
Management is a function – planning,
budgeting, evaluating, facilitating.
You may also be curious about how motivated you
are to lead. How about using a web based tool to help you see
how motivated you are to lead others. Go to the link below
and answer the 14 questions as truthfully as you can. Once
you have all the questions answered click the button to calculate
your score. No need to report your score to anyone else, this
is for your own understanding of yourself. —Rick
Many
things change in life. Change is neither good or bad, it is
just change. But some times the change is clearly good. That
is how I see the ongoing changes being implemented and planned
for BSA web sites.
It is my understanding changes are being planned for the Los
Padres Council web site. It is rumored that the council has
engaged a company called DoubleKnot to help manage the content
of the council web site and newsletter publishing, now that
the previous webmaster, Scott Matthew has moved out of the
council. I hear Wayne Rascati will be helping implement the
new changes to the Los Padres Council's web site. Wayne has
been an active and well respected volunteer in the South Coast
District for many years. In addition to Wayne's involvement
with the LA Catholic Committee on Scouting, Order of the Arrow
and the South Coast District's E-Zine electronic newsletter,
his new involvement with the
council web site will keep him very busy.
Now back to the National BSA Web sites. In addition to recent
information updates being posted and the recent cosmetic changes
to the National BSA Web sites advance notice about proposed
changes have also been posted.
These changes include some good stuff! It's about time that
information resources like the Boy Scout Requirements book,
No. 33215 are made available via the World Wide Web by the
BSA. Why should volunteers, spend $4.99 every year for information
that could easily be published via the Web? I hope that more
Scouting information resources are made available this way.
It just makes sense compared to printing hard copies that go
out of date when information changes. The national office could
easily make all the committee guidebooks available this way.
The professionals have had electronic versions of their "Red
Book" that contains copies of all the committee books
for some years now. All the national office would need to do
is decide that if it's good for the professional to have electronically,
it should also be good for the volunteers who do their work
with out pay.
By making additional resources available on the World Wide
Web there is hope that more people will take advantage of the
resources to improve the quality of the programs provided to
our children. This is especially true when resources for training
leaders improve in quality and availability. Just look at the
plans for new training program to be included in the Online
Learning Center, "Courses that are likely to be added
this year include a fast start course for unit commissioners,
a weather safety module, New Leader Essentials, Cub Scout leader
specific training, training for den chiefs, and a Spanish version
of Boy Scout Fast Start." With recent data from Pew Research
showing 85% of adults have access to and use the Internet,
maybe we will get a higher percentage of volunteer leaders
trained. I still prefer a well developed group training program
to train adult volunteer leaders, but that environment is getting
harder and harder to find.
The following information is taken from the National BSA web
site and will give you a glimpse of the god things to come.Although
all the planned projects may not all come to fruition, seeing
the proposed plans shared does give one hope things will get
better.—Rick
Current Projects
Projects that are currently "on the workbench" will be listed
here. It is highly unusual (though not altogether unheard of)
that a project that's in development will be changed/cancelled
- but then, nothing's for sure until it hits the Web.
Boy Scout Requirements
The Boy Scout Requirements book, No. 33215, will be
available via the BSA Web site. (This includes rank requirements,
merit badge requirements, requirements for additional awards
... the whole book, cover to cover). The projected deadline
for this project is June 1, 2007.
My Scouting
In Spring 2007, we will launch "My Scouting," a portal for
our members that will provide access to their information
from the Online Learning Center and to several online applications,
including the new Online Tour Permit.
MBC Orientation
We're currently developing a module that can be used as an
orientation or reference site for Merit Badge Counselors.
Risk Management
Risk Management will soon provide a collection of health and
safety information via the scouting.org Web site.
Staffing the District Committee
A new training module for staffing the District Committee
is on the workbench.
International Division
International Division is reviewing their section of the site
(www.scouting.org/international) with an eye toward a dramatic
overhaul of the content they provide.
Venturing Recruiting Site
A recruiting site for the Venturing program is in discussion.
The goal is to have a site that supports local council efforts
to promote Venturing to teens and promote the values of operating
a crew to chartered organizations, similar to the way that
joincubscouting.org and thescoutzone.org do for their respective
programs. Provided all goes well, this site should be online
in late summer or early fall of this year.
Future Plans:
The information below is an "FYI" about things that may be
coming in the future - but please be aware: the further off
a project is, the more it's subject to be changed/cancelled.
New OLC Courses
A number of courses are on the wish list to be added to the
Online Learning Center this year. Some of them are just ideas
at this point, others are approved and funded projects. Courses
that are likely to be added this year include a fast start
course for unit commissioners, a weather safety module, New
Leader Essentials, Cub Scout leader specific training, training
for den chiefs, and a Spanish version of Boy Scout Fast Start.
Content Management System
We are currently in the process of evaluating vendors to provide
a content management system that will simplify the behind-the-scenes
work in keeping the content of national sites up to date. In
time, we would like to leverage this system to provide the
same capability for councils, districts, and units.
Thus far, we have viewed proposals from several vendors and
have arrived at our "top three" - the next step in the process
is to work with these three vendors toward developing a detailed
project description.
This project, still in the early stages, remains contingent
on funding and we do not anticipate being able to begin until
2008 at the earliest.
W3B Conclave Promotional Video
W3B Conclave, September 14-16 at Bakersfield
College.
This is a fun promotional video for the W3B Conclave.
For those not familiar with the Order of the Arrow and their
terminology, a conclave
is a training meeting for Order of the Arrow members
from a specific geographic area. Using a James Bond theme for
the conclave is just a very creative and a fun way to promote
the event. Doing a promotional video for the conclave and then
posting it on the
web is
just smart. These type of advanced technology driven promotions
are not so difficult that they could not be done locally. With
all the competing activities tugging at our Scouts, this creative
promotional
effort should
produce
good
results in attendance at the conclave. —Rick
The Order of the Arrow Scoutreach Mentoring Program
Recently
I became aware that the Order of the Arrow, Chumash Lodge 90
leadership is considering implementing a Scoutreach Mentor
program. Since
many in Scouting
may not be familiar with the Order of the Arrow,
the
Scoutreach
Division of Scouting, the Scoutreach Mentor program or
how Scouting defines being a mentor, it might be a good time
to share some information about these topics.
The better we
understand different areas of Scouting the better prepared
we become to give support to all aspects of the Scouting
program.
If
you are involved in a Scoutreach unit or if you have some good
ideas on how the Lodge can help support our Scoutreach units,
please contact Lodge Chief Daniel Huthsing at lodge.chief@chumashlodge90.org.
Si usted es implicado en una unidad de Scoutreach o si usted
tiene las ideas de someood en cómo el Alojamiento puede
ayudar apoyo nuestras unidades de Scoutreach, por favor contacto
Aloja Daniel Huthsing Principal en lodge.chief@chumashlodge90.org.
The following information has been pulled from web sites owned
by the Boy Scouts of America.
What Is the Order of the Arrow?
The Order of the Arrow is Scouting's "National Honor Society." Members
of the Order of the Arrow are elected by their peers on the
basis of service and leadership in their units. The Scouts
and Scouters selected to the Order of the Arrow best exemplify
the Scout Oath and Law in their daily lives. The Order of the
Arrow is the "Brotherhood of Cheerful Service," and its members
are charged to serve others. Members of the Order of the Arrow
are the best that Scouting has to offer.
The Scoutreach Division gives special leadership
and emphasis to urban and rural Scouting programs. Scoutreach
is the BSA's
commitment to making sure that all young people have an opportunity
to join Scouting, regardless of their circumstances, neighborhood,
or ethnic background.
Today, young people are faced with many challenges including
fragile families and disintegrating neighborhoods. Scoutreach
meets the developmental needs of youth in urban settings as
diverse as the Latino neighborhoods of South Central Los Angeles
and the housing developments of Washington, D.C. The program
also focuses on the U.S. rural population, which constitutes
approximately 25 percent of the total U.S. population. Some
rural communities are stable and growing, whereas others are
characterized by decentralized, low-density populations and/or
poverty.
Scouting, by emphasizing ethics and moral values, addresses
many of the social concerns of parents and youth in our country.
Scouting prepares urban and rural youth to be leaders, to accept
responsibility, and to care about principles and causes beyond
their own self-interest.
Our biggest asset in urban and rural neighborhoods is a well-defined
program based on values, learning by doing, fun, and positive
role models.
Remember when you joined your first Scout troop as a young
boy? In your troop there were older, more experienced Scouts
to lead, to set the example, to teach you skills, and to direct
your program.
Many of our Scoutreach units do not have experienced senior
Scouts to teach skills, run meetings, plan programs, or go
camping and hiking with confidence.
That is where the OA Scoutreach Mentoring program comes in!
The OA Scoutreach Mentoring program brings together Scouting's
best—members of the Order of the Arrow—Scouting's "National
Honor Society"—with Scouting's neediest— our urban and rural
Scoutreach units.
Members of the Order of the Arrow will provide, on an as-needed
basis, specific temporary assistance to Scoutreach units. Matching
exceptional skills to critical needs is what the OA Scoutreach
Mentoring program is all about, and the results show in the
quality of Scouts this program produces.
The
Scoutreach Mentoring Booklet is a publication that contains
information on the Scoutreach Mentoring program as well as
forms to be used in the process. The booklet is available in
Adobe PDF format.
In order to understand the concept of OA Scoutreach Mentoring,
you will need to understand the concept of mentoring. Mentor
is the name of the person to whom Odysseus (Ulysses) entrusted
the care of his son, Telemachus, when he set out on his wanderings
as described by Homer in the Odyssey. Mentor was Odysseus'
wise and trusted counselor, and became the tutor to Telemachus.
Mentor's name has been passed down through the centuries as
a term that means "wise and trusted counselor and teacher."
In general, a mentor is an individual, usually older and always
more experienced, who helps and guides another individual's
development. The guidance is not done for the personal gain
of the mentor. The best mentors are people whose own enthusiasm
for the task at hand, whether it is tying a knot or leading
a program, is so contagious that they inspire others just by
doing what they enjoy most. The object of mentoring is to encourage
growth of a younger or less experienced person whose needs
and interests are a mentor's primary consideration.
Characteristics of a Mentor
Role Model—A person that the youth admire and want
to be like
Teacher—A person who helps youth to acquire knowledge,
information or skills
Companion—A person who shares personal interests,
skills, and experiences with others
Supporter—A person who boosts self-esteem, gives
support, listens to ideas and concerns, expresses beliefs,
and conveys warm caring about the mentee as a person
Resource—A person who provides opportunities to
try new things and introduces mentees to new people, places,
interests, or ideas to enhance their experience
An OA Scoutreach
mentor can make the difference in a troop. By showing personal
enthusiasm for the Scouting program and
the outdoors, a mentor can help Scoutreach units improve
their programs and get kids excited about Scouting for the
rest of
their lives. A Scoutreach mentor can change lives.
For, said
he, who serves his fellows is, of all his fellows, greatest!
Give every kid a chance!
Adding a Pre-School/Kindergarten Aged Den To The Pack?
Change - is it good
or bad? The answer is, according to this poll on the ScoutParents.org
web site, not so good when
it comes to the idea of adding an even younger group of Cub
Scouts to the program. You might want to share your input on
younger boys being included in Cub Scouts by responding
to the poll. A link to the ScoutParent.org forum is provided
below.
If you have not yet visited the ScoutParents.org
web site, you might find it worthwhile. There is a dedicated
group of volunteers that contribute to the forum discussions
and the overall feeling of the discussions seem honest and
upbeat. —Rick
View Poll Results:
What do you think about adding a pre-school/kindergartner
aged den to the pack?
The Nature Corps is a nonprofit volunteer organization based
in Templeton, CA. We have been recruiting volunteers of all
ages to preserve and restore this Nation's amazing National
Parks since 1987.
This summer, we would like to extend an invitation to you
and your youth to join us for an exciting week in at Giant
Forest in Sequoia National Park. We have received a grant to
invite up to 80 youth (25-30 youth/outing) to experience Sequoia's
breathtaking scenery and explore its natural wonders.
The four components to this program are:
Volunteering with
the National Park Service,
Environmental education
Exploring
career opportunities with the National Park Service,
Learning about back country recreational opportunities.
Your kids will learn about this magnificent park as they:
Enjoy nature walks through the giant sequoia groves,
Swim at Hume Lake,
Explore Crystal Cave,
View the Great Western Divide from Moro Rock,
Participate in educational hikes and activities.
As part of the grant terms we are to request that the family
of each participant contribute $75 towards the outing costs.
(Partial and full
scholarships are available.) These outings are made possible
by the Santa Barbara Foundation.
The Nature Corps will provide camping sites, meals, cooks,
crew leaders and outdoor educators.
Your agency or group will be responsible for transporting
the kids to and from Sequoia and providing transportation throughout
their stay in the park.
The dates for the outings are listed below. Please provide
us with your first and second choice dates and the number of
youth you think you will be
able to bring on the outing. We will write back to you shortly
to confirm which week you have been selected for.
June 18-23
July 10-14
August 20-25
Minimum age for participants is 10 yrs. Ratio of 1 chaperone
for 6 children requested. Chaperones attend free!
Please feel free to call or write for additional information.
We look forward to sharing a great summer with you in the magnificent
Sierra Nevada!
Best Regards,
Teresa Hoffert
Program Development
The Nature Corps
3600 Ridge Road
Templeton, CA 93465-9460
Phone: (805) 434-0299
Toll Free: (800) 774-PARK
FAX: (805) 434-3444
Calendar Items
South
Coast District's Spring Adult Leader Training Dates - [ flyer ] South Coast District's
New Leader Essentials Training Invitation - [ flyer ]
Please send corrections
or additional calendar information to [suggestions@lpcylt.org]
for posting.
Weekly Scouting Term
This feature of Rick's
News! presents a new Scouting term taken directly
from the Language of Scouting web page each week. This
information may help upgrade your understanding of Scouting
terminology and the Scouting program. If you have a term
you would like listed let me know. [http://www.scouting.org/identity/los/]
safe haven
Do not use this term to describe or imply the atmosphere of a Scouting activity.
Scouting strives to create an environment that is governed by the Scout Oath
and Law where everyone should feel physically and emotionally secure.
Weekly Web Site
Youth Protection Resources
[ http://www.scouting.org/pubs/yp ]
A new page has been added to the site to highlight the BSA's efforts, policies,
and resources in the area of Youth Protection.
Although this is just one page of the National BSA web site,
I decided to bring it to your attention because Youth Protection
is such an important topic. This page is similar to a page
I created several years ago as webmaster for the Greater Yosemite
Council. My page is still available at
[ http://lpcylt.org/training/resources_YP.htm ]
If you compare the resources listed on the BSA web page and
my Youth Protection Resources page you will notice I also list
the articles previously published in Boys' Life and Scouting
Magazines on the topic of Youth Protection.
Quotable Quotes
Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have
for lunch.
Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote!
Benjamin Franklin, 1759
US author, diplomat, inventor, physicist, politician, & printer (1706 -
1790)
Wit — Wordplay — Wisecracks
An
Old Farmer's Advice
* Your fences need to be horse-high, pig-tight and bull-strong.
* Keep skunks and bankers and lawyers at a distance.
* Life is simpler when you plow around the stump.
* A bumble bee is considerably faster than a John Deere tractor.
* Words that soak into your ears are whispered...not yelled.
* Meanness don't jes' happen overnight.
* Forgive your enemies. It messes up their heads.
* Do not corner something that you know is meaner than you.
* It don't take a very big person to carry a grudge.
* You cannot unsay a cruel word.
* Every path has a few puddles.
* When you wallow with pigs, expect to get dirty.
* The best sermons are lived, not preached.
* Most of the stuff people worry about ain 't never gonna
happen anyway.
* Don't judge folks by their relatives.
* Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.
* Live a good honorable life. Then when you get older and
think back, you'll enjoy it a second time.
* Don't interfere with somethin' that ain' botherin' you
none.
* Timing has a lot to do with the outcome of a rain dance.
* If you find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is
stop diggin'.
* Sometimes you get, and sometimes you get got.
* The biggest troublemaker you'll probably ever have to deal
with, watches you from the mirror every mornin'.
* Always drink upstream from the herd.
* Good judgment comes from experience, and a lotta that comes
from bad judgment.
* Lettin' the cat outta the bag is a whole lot easier than
puttin' it back in.
* If you get to thinkin' you're a person of some influence,
try orderin' somebody else's dog around.
* Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply.
* Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God.
The Scoutmaster's Minute
Safety Afloat
Scouts, what do the following merit badges have in common: Canoeing, Motorboating,
Rowing, Small-Boat Sailing, and Water Skiing? I'll give you a hint - they all
have the same first requirement.
You guessed it. All those badges require that a Scout be classed
a "swimmer" before he even gets started on the badge.
It's pretty obvious why you must be a swimmer before you can
go out into the deep water in a canoe or other craft.
As I think you all know, to be classed as a swimmer you have
to be able to swim 100 yards, do the elementary backstroke,
and be able to rest in water by floating. To those who swim
well, that's a piece of cake. To those who don't it could be
a challenge.
You're not going to able to go canoeing or rafting until you
can meet the test. We're going to spend time this month helping
the non-swimmers and beginners so that by the summer, most
of you - maybe all - will be able to swim the hundred.
Being able to swim well will unlock the door to those other
badges. It will also give you a life-long sport, one that you
will be able to enjoy for many years after you no longer have
the ability to play other sports. That's one of the reasons
we go swimming now. The other of course is that it's fun.
Rick's News is
not associated with the Los Padres Council or the Boy
Scouts of America.
Send requests for e-mail registration, removal or changes to your e-mail
address by clicking — [ HERE ]
Previous issues of the Los Padres Council's "Weekly News" and Rick's
News! can be viewed at: [ Archives ]
Copyright 2006-2007 — Rick's
News! A private communication to my valued Scouting friends.
Do you sometimes get confused about the difference between
leadership and management? I know I do. I see the two as different
but very much linked together in may situations. Leaders also
need to manage others on occasion. Managers, on occasion, also
show leadership. 
Many
things change in life. Change is neither good or bad, it is
just change. But some times the change is clearly good. That
is how I see the ongoing changes being implemented and planned
for BSA web sites. 
Recently
I became aware that the Order of the Arrow, Chumash Lodge 90
leadership is considering implementing a Scoutreach Mentor
program. Since
many in Scouting
may not be familiar with the Order of the Arrow,
the
Scoutreach
Division of Scouting, the Scoutreach Mentor program or
how Scouting defines being a mentor, it might be a good time
to share some information about these topics. 
The Scoutreach Division gives special leadership
and emphasis to urban and rural Scouting programs. Scoutreach
is the BSA's
commitment to making sure that all young people have an opportunity
to join Scouting, regardless of their circumstances, neighborhood,
or ethnic background.
Volunteer Youth Outing
Order
of the Arrow Ordeal 
Memorial
Day
Tres
Robles, NYLT Orientation Meeting [ 
Del
Norte District - Cub Scout Day Camp -
Webelos
Woods
Spook-O-Ree 
An
Old Farmer's Advice 
