| > | | | | harnessed on a zip line zooming across a canyon. |
| Business leaders can gain valuable leadership tips from | | | | Instead of telling children, "be careful", camp |
| camp counselors. | | | | counselors are yelling, "You can do it!" Way to go!" |
| Think back to the carefree days of summer camp. | | | | Counselors encourage risk taking. Job seekers at |
| Remember the excitement of meeting your | | | | Microsoft are frequently asked, "What kind of risks |
| counselor? If a counselor jumped into an icy-cold | | | | did you take on your last job? What did you learn |
| creek, it's likely the rest of the campers followed. | | | | from that experience?" Microsoft looks for people |
| Your counselor had the entire cabin cheerfully | | | | willing to take a risk, knowing it could result in a new |
| scrapping dried spaghetti off plates as part of | | | | product or service. Are brainstorming sessions at |
| clean-up duties. A majority of the camp experience | | | | work predictable and well... a little boring? Show your |
| correlated to the counselor's attitude and behavior. In | | | | employees are willing to take risks. Jimmy Johnson, a |
| the same way, the leadership style of camp | | | | coach for the Dallas Cowboys said "Do you want to |
| counselors transfers over to the world of business | | | | be safe and good, or do you want to take a chance |
| also. | | | | and be great?" Camp Counselors are fun! When a |
| Camp counselors display leadership. They are the | | | | counselor is placidly floating in an inner tube, only to |
| ones saying, "Let's get this cabin cleaned up so we | | | | be tipped by a group of ten-year-olds, what does he |
| can win the Pink Flamingo award!" Yes, the familiar | | | | do? A camp counselor laughs, spits water from his |
| "Management by Walking Around" has its merit. Yet it | | | | mouth and begins dunking all the campers within |
| also takes a leader to make suggestions, set an | | | | reach. The water churns with flailing arms, tipped |
| example and actually do something to inspire | | | | inner tubes and peals of laughter. For the next week, |
| employees and attendees. As a professional speaker, | | | | campers giggle and say, "Wasn't that cool how we |
| I frequently work with business people. A few | | | | snuck up behind Steven and tipped him from the |
| months ago, I arrived early to set up my props for | | | | inner tube?" The group has a lasting bond, knowing |
| my keynote. The meeting planner and her committee | | | | they shared a fun experience together. I've worked |
| stood in the ballroom, deciding where to place | | | | with groups where people are hesitant to ask their |
| balloons for decorations. She asked questions such | | | | supervisor a question because he or she is so |
| as, "Should we put balloons around the head table?" | | | | stressed out. Try putting some fun back into the |
| What do you think about balloons next to the main | | | | workplace. This doesn't mean everyone must wear |
| door? Should the red balloons be separate from the | | | | red noses and blow kazoos. How about asking people |
| blue ones?" "Anyone have any ideas?" Well meaning | | | | to come to a staff meeting with a picture of their |
| as she was, attendees were waiting to enter the | | | | favorite pet? Put up a bulletin board so people can |
| room while 200 balloons waited to get blown up and | | | | display pictures of their new cat or their beloved |
| placed around the room. Sometimes business | | | | Rover wearing a pointed party hat. Give out simple |
| professionals are so busy making sure they work as | | | | awards such as a Good and Plenty candy bar to |
| a "team" that no one takes a leadership role. | | | | someone for always having plenty of good ideas. |
| Someone with camp counselor leadership would | | | | Celebrate some untraditional holidays such as National |
| encourage some discussion, and then say, "Look, we | | | | Bubble Wrap Day or Ugly Tie Day. A bit of fun and |
| have 20 minutes to get these balloons up before | | | | light-hearted humor goes a long way to increase |
| people arrive. Jeff and Marion, would you take half | | | | attendee productivity and enjoyment. |
| these balloons and put them by the entrance? The | | | | Next time you are looking to improve your leadership |
| other half can be placed around the head table. | | | | skills, why not invite a college student who was a |
| Thanks! " In some cases, leadership simply means | | | | camp counselor last summer to lunch? Have them |
| taking control and delegating people to do certain | | | | share their insight in how they manage to inspire, |
| tasks. | | | | educate and motivate groups of energetic children. |
| Camp counselors encourage risk taking. It's a good | | | | The counselor's tips might help you inspire, educate |
| thing mothers aren't at camp to see their children | | | | and motivate fellow employees. |