1 Patrol Leader Training
2 CONGRATULATIONS You have been chosen to be aPatrol leader!Trust and confidence have been shown in you!
3 ABBREVIATIONS PL: Patrol Leader PS: Patrol Second JL: Junior LeaderPLC: Patrol Leaders Council AGP: Australian Guide Program
4 WHAT IS EXPECTED OF ME? Set a good exampleWear the Guide uniform correctly Make sure your patrol has their Patrol Emblem, Promise Badge & World Badge on Live by the Guide Promise & Law Show patrol spirit! Expect the best from yourselves and others
5 WHAT IS EXPECTED OF ME? Keep patrol members informedRepresent your patrol at the PLC Plan and lead patrol time, games & ceremony Work with leaders to help everyone in the unit
6 WHAT IS EXPECTED OF ME? Know your patrols strengths & weaknessesMake sure your patrol members are fully involved with activities & duties Continue to work on your own goals Encourage your patrol members to complete their own goals
7 WHAT IS THE PATROL METHOD?“The Patrol Method is not a way to operate the Boy Scout troop: it is the only way. Unless the Patrol Method is in operation, you don’t really have a Boy Scout Troop” Robert Baden - Powell
8 WHAT IS THE PATROL METHOD?Patrols are the building blocks of a Guide Unit They work together as a team Ideal patrol size is 4-8 They must have a name & an emblem Each Patrol should strive to be the best they can be
9 what is the patrol method?“The object of the Patrol Method is not so much saving the Scoutmaster trouble as giving responsibility to the boy” Robert Baden-Powell You’re in charge. Belrose needs to be a girl - run unit!
10 PATROL ACTIVITIES Did you know the patrol can do things on their own outside the unit? Eg: If you wanted to go bushwalking and the unit wasn’t doing it, your patrol could go on it’s own 3 conditions: The activity is approved by Moira One of the leaders can attend It doesn’t interfere with any Guide function
11 HOW DO I BUILD PATROL SPIRIT?Shared experiences, good or bad, will bond a patrol over time Be creative & come up with a good song or a couple. Then you can use the one that suits the mood of the patrol. Let everyone have input choosing songs. Decorate your patrol board.
12 HOW DO I BUILD PATROL SPIRIT?Make a nice flag with everyone’s name on it – take it wherever you go – Guide meetings, camps etc Specialize: be the best patrol at cooking, knots, building fires quickly... Work together to build a reputation for doing well in patrol competitions such as cook offs.
13 HOW DO I BUILDPATROL SPIRIT?Complete a service project approved by your leaders Wear your uniform at all events
14 WHAT DO I DO AT THE PLC? The PLC - Patrol Leaders Council – is a meeting of PLs, PSs & leaders PLC happens once per term Bring your patrol’s concerns to the meeting so they can be solved! Be sure to communicate any decisions to your patrol.
15 PATROL TIME Often held during Guide meetingsThere’s not much time so you need to run it quickly! Get your patrol’s attention & take care of business Its a good time to prepare for a camp or an activity – making a bedroll, making swaps, planning themes etc
16 PATROL TIME Remember its not necessarily the PLs job to tidy the patrol box – Just make sure someone does it! Delegate! Perhaps you can rotate patrol jobs around your patrol If you run out of time in the unit meeting arrange a time to finish up what you were doing
17 patrol time Patrol meetings can be held at any time, any placeUnit meetings Via At someone’s house Remember you run the patrol meeting – but everyone participates & has input! Always notify Moira if you are doing something with your patrol outside of meetings (include us on your s)
18 RESPONSIBILITIES Check the program to see if you are on duty each week & come prepared. If PLs can’t make it tell your PS so they know Come with ideas for term programs Inform the leaders if one of your patrol is absent for the night.
19 LEADERSHIP Leadership is a way of getting things done through other people Leadership does not mean you have to do everything by yourself!
20 LEADERSHIP True or false:The only people who lead have some kind of leadership job, such as chairman, coach or king
21 LEADERSHIP True of false?Leadership is a gift. If you are born with it, you can lead. If you are not then you can’t lead.
22 LEADERSHIP True or false? “Leader” is another word for “boss”.
23 LEADERSHIP True or false?Being a leader in a Guide unit is like being a leader anywhere else.
24 LEADERSHIP BASICS Have a good attitude! Act with maturity Be organisedOptimism is contagious – so is pessimism Act with maturity When someone needs to step up and “be big” – that is you Be organised Prepare for meetings and think ahead Look the part The Guide uniform includes all people
25 LEADERSHIP SKILLS Communication Communication involves several factorsReceiving – through your 5 senses Storing – memories, written notes etc Retrieving – good recall, organised files Giving - are they getting it – ask for feedback Interpreting - confirm your interpretation
26 LEADERSHIP SKILLS Effective listeningYou learn a lot more by listening than talking! Watch the other’s body language Be aware of how you feel – tired, cold, hungry Active – provide feedback to let them know you got it Empathy – show the other person you know how they feel
27 LEADERSHIP SKILLS Stop, start, continue – getting feedbackWhat should we start doing? What should we stop doing? What should we continue to do? Everyone had the right to express Each person can pass if they want to No put downs! Be positive!
28 LEADERSHIP SKILLS Matching your style to the needeg: A Guide who was a Junior Guide needs different leadership than someone who is brand new EDGE method of Leadership: Explain – for those just learning a skill Demonstrate – show them how Guide – now they’re getting it so step back Enable – clear roadblocks & let them go
29 LEADERSHIP SKILLS Using the EDGE style works for leading your patrol as well as teaching A new patrol might need more explaining and demonstrating An older, established patrol might already be functioning smoothly so guide and enable them
30 PROBLEM RESOLUTION Things happen – personality clashes, misunderstandings etc Be the calm one – if you go ‘off the deep end’ so will everyone else Meet privately with those who are upset Give everyone a chance to express their feelings If necessary, pass it onto leaders
31 LEADERSHIP SITUATIONSThe unit is planning a feast. At the PLC, your patrol was assigned to select and prepare the main course. The members of your patrol want to make spaghetti and meatballs but you are a vegetarian and never eat red meat. What can you do?
32 LEADERSHIP SITUATIONSOn the second day of camp Corella tells you that one of the girls in your patrol doesn’t want to take part in archery because one of the girls is picking on her. What do you do?
33 LEADERSHIP SITUATIONSCorella phones you at home to tell you that several of the Frenchs forest girls will be visiting the unit the following night. She would like your patrol to do an impressive opening ceremony. The entire patrol will need to arrive early and be in full uniform. What do you do?
34 LEADERSHIP SITUATIONSAt the last meeting, patrol members divided up the gear for a backpacking expedition, assigning heavier bigger items to the bigger & stronger girls and lighter items to the smaller Guides. Is this fair? Saturday morning, at the beginning of the walk, one of your patrol members refuses to carry her share. What do you do?
35 INNAPROPRIATE BEHAVIOURNO harassment, name calling or bullying in Guides Set a good example If you see a serious problem report it to the leaders
36 PROMOTING OPPORTUNITIES, CAMPS, ACTIVITIESWhen you are a PL we expect that you will attend most activities (even the ones out of Guides time) We need out PLs to look after others If something is too expensive, and that’s why you can’t come, please tell us and we will work something out with your parents
37 TOP 10 TIPS FOR A PATROL LEADERKeep your word – don’t make promises you can’t keep Be fair to all – don’t show favouritism to some Communicate – or call your patrol members to remind them of things (keeping an patrol list is a quick way of blasting out info quickly)
38 TOP 10 TIPS FOR PATROL LEADERSBe flexible – everything doesn’t always go as planned Be organised Delegate! – this means you don’t have to do everything. Let your PS make some of the phone calls and do some of the work.
39 TOP 10 TIPS FOR PATROL LEADERSSet the example – if you’re cheerful your patrol will follow you Give praise! Telling someone ‘nice job’ in front of others builds self esteem Ask for help – from Moira, Camira, or your own patrol members
40 TOP 10 TIPS FOR PATROL LEADERSHave fun! You may have your ups and downs, but remember Guides is supposed to be fun. Relax and enjoy your time as a Patrol Leader.