|
Sarah Weddington, a keynote speaker at the upcoming American
Camping Association National Conference in San
Francisco, California, is devoted to helping individuals develop their
personal leadership skills. She is particularly well known for her work
on issues affecting women through her many roles as attorney, legislator,
and presidential advisor. Having lived a life of leadership, Dr. Weddington
shares her expertise and techniques — her insights into how to increase
your energy and how to recognize those important learning and "aha"
moments, practice leadership, and make a positive difference.
In an interview with Camping Magazine, Dr. Weddington
discusses how her philosophy of "laughter, learn, and lead"
applies to the camp community and all those who work in child and youth
development.
The need to demonstrate and instill
leadership skills is a powerful responsibility for those who work in the
camp community and with children and youth. What leadership skills do
you think these people should have and why?
The most important method of teaching leadership is
by example. An applicable saying is, "Who you are speaks so loudly
that I cannot hear your words." Staff members will pattern their
leadership after those above them — not after what others say as
much as what they do. Second, camp owners, directors, and administrators
should allow their staff members to practice leadership. I suggest practice
in part because inherent in it is the concept that one doesn’t have
to be perfect. Improving one’s leadership skills often involves
taking some risk and moving beyond what one has done successfully in the
past. Of course, I am not suggesting jump-off-the-top-of-a-mountain risk,
but rather risk taken in small increments. Third, one of the most important
leadership skills is the ability to listen. Each person — of whatever
age — coming to a camp will have an individual story. Camps offer
a unique environment for children to have new experiences and grow into
their own. By listening to the needs of each child, staff offer support
that helps children develop their own identity. Another aspect of listening
is that of listening to fellow staff members. A recent article talked
about how we are often e-mailing, going through mail, driving or performing
a variety of tasks while having a phone conversation. We aren’t
truly listening; but we should.
How do they teach these skills not
only to their young adult counseling staff, but also to the children and
youth in their charge?
Leaders are guides. We set the example. People, especially
children, are continuously watching — and they often mimic what
they see. That’s true regarding physical activities and skills,
but it’s also true regarding values demonstrated by how one treats
others and one’s conduct. Effective teaching often begins by conveying
concepts of leadership through words and concepts. When those words are
reinforced by actions, then the message is much more easily understood.
Each camp session is — for
all intents and purposes — a "new" summer. How can you
maintain energy and enthusiasm to start afresh each session and to sustain
the energy necessary to provide quality leadership throughout each session?
Leaders have to find ways to sustain their own energy.
Laughter or good times can be setting aside time for the activities that
help us replenish. I am an introvert who has learned extrovert behavior,
so I have to set aside time to be alone, whether reading, walking, or
working on a project. Extroverts often need to schedule time purposefully
with people who energize them. One extroverted student said he did his
best studying on a city bus — to prepare for a test, he got on a
bus and just rode around the city finding energy in all the activity.
That same plan would be a disaster for me.
Continual learning allows leaders constantly to extend
their own reach and competencies. And focusing on the "why"
of camp and our work as leaders allows us to renew our sense of purpose.
Camp and similar programs are filled with activities that are generally
both mentally and physically exhausting. Yet staff keep coming back year
after year. Why? I suggest it is because of the ability to see those in
our care grow and flourish. Many staffers keep returning for one primary
reason — the kids with whom they have the opportunity to work. The
camp experience makes a monumental impact in the lives of children. Keeping
that as the focus will create the motivation necessary to remain kid-centered
and produce amazing "new" summers each week.
Why is it important for professionals
to replenish their energy through educational opportunities such as ACA’s
national conference?
I believe that leadership is the ability and the willingness
to leave one’s thumbprint.
The ACA conference is a perfect place to think about
things that should be different or things you would like to change and
to develop a plan for how to leave your thumbprint. Youth development
professionals have made a noble commitment to play an important role in
the lives of the children they serve and staff. This commitment comes
with a number of sacrifices (i.e., time, money, etc.). It is vital to
the success of a camp for these professionals to continue learning and
"recharging their batteries."
What do you think is the biggest
challenge to leadership today?
The biggest challenge to leadership today, in my opinion,
is that most people are tired. At times just getting through a day can
seem to take all of one’s energy. One friend commented, "I
try to take one day at a time, but sometimes several days gang up and
attack me all at once."
That’s why I like them so much — I admire
people who try to help others mature and develop useful skills and attitudes.
I am a teacher, and I think of you as teachers. But when flying, the flight
attendant always says, "In the unlikely event of an emergency, an
oxygen mask will fall down. First, put your own oxygen mask on . . . ."
I believe we can find oxygen and energy through laughter
(or good times), through learning, and through impact or leadership. Life
is a series of course corrections. If you had asked me when I was finishing
college what I was going to do or be, I would never have accurately guessed
my path. Leadership is learned in many ways, including through practice
and through what I call "use of the critical eye." Because I
learned leadership, it has lifted me to many opportunities. I often say,
"Leadership is the wind beneath my wings." I am grateful to
have had so many exciting experiences and opportunities, and most of them
were made possible by my leadership interest and abilities.
Originally published in the 2004 January/February
issue of Camping Magazine.
|
