Eleven Skills of Leadership: 2. Understanding the Needs and Characteristics of the Group

September 29th, 2009 by admin Leave a reply »

Eleven Skills of Leadership: 2. Understanding the Needs and Characteristics of the Group PhotoYou know summer camp? It is usually a place to train young people to be independent during summer holiday. Ok, when you come to the camp, even if you come with friends, you’ll be put into a group where none of you know each others. Sound a little scary? There’s a reason for it!

Everyone in the group carries a little history with them. With none of matter, everyone has the same opportunities and advantage to be the best person they can be. There are no pre-conceptions or limitations on what you can finish.

Now, what makes others tick?
Everyone gets to learn about somebody else, their characteristics, their needs, what makes them “tick.” We learn what makes people excited, what motivates them, what they need to get successful, and how to support and grow the group. We learn about how groups come together and commit to achieving tough but desired goals.
By the time your group plans and carries out some activities, you learn more about yourself, your individual characteristics and needs. You learn how to balance individual needs against those of the entire group, and finally you learn how to be a part of the group.
To understand others, we are supposed to first understand ourselves. This understanding ability can come naturally as we grow, and at the camp we trust in giving individual direct encouragement to improve and discover on their abilities and skills.

Learn and grow as an individual and with the group
Every member in the group needs to learn other members’ characteristics and needs. Throughout life, as any group forms, members informally assess others’ needs and characteristics. We take the process out of the closet and use it to assist everyone prosper and grow. We teach how to learn about and assess your own and other group members’ characteristics and needs in a trusting, open environment via specific learning exercises and activities.

Everyone is well accepted and their individual differences are highly valued, for the differences contribute to an environment calculated to encourage growth of the group.

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