Edit: I still want to go back to Gilwell, happy land.
Originally posted May 21, 2013 on AIXchange
I’ve learned some interesting lessons about attitude lately. My sons participate in Boy Scouts. I was involved with Scouting at their age, and while I enjoyed the campouts and other outdoor activities, I never worried about rank advancements. And I certainly didn’t care much for uniforms.
In a way I’m more invested in Scouting now, thanks to my boys. Early on I would fill in for other adult leaders during campouts and other activities. But even though I was helping out by showing up and providing the necessary minimum two-deep leadership, I didn’t do much beyond serving as a chaperone.
For some time I was encouraged to attend a training program called Wood Badge. When I first heard about it, I imagined a bunch of gung-ho Scout dads roughing it in the woods, tying knots and climbing trees. That first impression — the one concocted entirely in my mind — made me hesitate. I was already a father. What sort of week-long training did I need to look after a bunch of kids?
Eventually, I relented and took the training, but this didn’t immediately change my attitude. I was surly when I arrived, still questioning in my mind the necessity of this experience. However, it didn’t take long for my preconceived notions to transform.
For one thing, many of the Wood Badge participants were moms. They led Cub Scout packs and were also wanting to learn how to be more effective leaders to the boys they work with. Even the fact that some of us were older and out of shape made me look at things differently — none of these people really lived up to my image of a “super scouter.” Although I went into it as someone who was baffled by the skits and songs and general silliness, by the end of the training I was enjoying the interaction, and looking forward to singing about Gilwell and Happy Land.
This is the course description found on Wikipedia:
“Wood Badge is a Scouting leadership program and the related award for adult leaders in the programs of Scout associations throughout the world. Wood Badge courses aim to make Scouters better leaders by teaching advanced leadership skills, and by creating a bond and commitment to the Scout movement. Courses generally have a combined classroom and practical outdoors-based phase followed by a Wood Badge ticket, also known as the project phase. By ‘working the ticket,’ participants put their newly gained experience into practice to attain ticket goals aiding the Scouting movement.
“On completion of the course, participants are awarded the Wood Badge beads to recognize significant achievement in leadership and direct service to young people. The pair of small wooden beads, one on each end of a leather thong (string), is worn around the neck as part of the Scout uniform.”
Admittedly, those words don’t make the Wood Badge course seem very interesting, but I now know from experience. When you’re out in the woods and actually camping and practicing outdoor skills, the instruction holds quite a bit of value. Honestly, the training was outstanding. Wood Badge training consists of six 16-hour days, covering skills like listening, communication, team building and dealing with change. There are games and physical activities that help you learn to work as a team to solve problems. These are all skills that certainly apply to Boy Scouts, but they’re also applicable to our jobs and our personal interactions.
Many others who took the course were as pleasantly surprised as I was. Some said it was much more effective than corporate training they’d been through. By the end I had to agree. We were all strangers coming in, but we bonded more than you’d think possible. And we all wanted to be better Scout leaders and get more involved in the program.
My one regret is I didn’t do it sooner. I wasted years by being so close-minded.
So does this experience have anything to do with working on IBM Power Systems? I think so. Obviously, it showed me the value of a good attitude. It also demonstrated, once again, that as much as you can learn by reading, nothing beats hands-on training.
I’m now working on my Wood Badge tickets, and hoping to someday return to Happy Land. So what are you working on? What goals have you set for yourself? How do you plan on accomplishing them?