"This is the end Beautiful friend This is the end My only friend, the end Of our elaborate plans..."

Feeling like a little Jim Morrison today and the lyrics were appropriate for the last blog of this class.

Anyway, reading the book and reflecting has not only reinforced my ideas of what a good leader is, but reassured me that I made the right choice.

I think I mentioned this before, but my first time at USA Summer camp, I had no idea what I was doing and I was really open and honest with my counselors.  That worked GREAT.  We had a great rapport, and if I didn't know something or wasn't sure of the best way to do something, I asked and it went awesome.  Best summer ever.

Unfortunately, what I thought I had learned my 1st year about being a director actually worked against me my 2nd year.  The next year, even though I was working with completely different couselors, I tried to manage them like the year before.  While it wasn't a disaster, it wasn't a smooth as the previous year.  I took what I thought I knew (which is the most dangerous) and tried to recreate my successes instead of being flexible with my previous year.

My third, and last year, at camp I did more like what I did my first year. The result was another amazing summer at camp.  


Reflecting on this, I learned that it's important to have a relationship with everyone working for you.  I made an extra effort to talk to all counselors equally so that their wouldn't be favorites that were too obvious.  Everyone has favorites, the trick is to limit the perception of that and make sure you have some rapport with everyone so when you want to try something new, it's easier.

I understand that if you're in a position of power, you can always say, "Because I'm the boss." or use means of intimidation, etc. to get your way.  Unfortunately, that poisons the well and does more harm than good.


I feel some of the best advice in the book, which I have used, is to be humble and go in asking questions and not with "this is the way we're going to do it" or a "my way or the high way" attitude.  I think by being open, connected with whomever you're supervising allows you to offer advice and create change.  Feelings of insincerity or lack of connection with whom you are supervising creates problems and mistrust.

I've begun to ramble, but if you play nice and build the relationship, the rest should follow. The simulation game addressed that, and if we think about relationships and smaller management tasks we done in the past, think how much easier it has gone when you've had a good relationship or rapport with the ones you were directing.