Leadership at Encampment

1
Leadership at Encampment

• Daniel Brodsky, Maj, CAP
• Commandant of Cadets
• 2007 NYWG Encampment

2
Outline

• Introduction
• My goals for encampment
• Expectations for cadet staff
• Meeting those expectations
• Encampment teams
• Wrap-up

3
Introduction

• What makes encampment a unique leadership
  environment?
• CAP 24/7, instead of the usual 2 hrs/wk
• Much larger than a squadron meeting
• Long days, uncomfortable sleeping quarters
• Constant watchful eye of military brethren
• For some cadets, this is their first time away
  from home

4
Commandants Goals

• Dont teach wrong things
• Everybody learns
• Immersion in the CAP Core Values
• Integrity
• Volunteer Service
• Excellence
• Respect

5
Immersion in Core Values

• Levels of depth
• Recite Most Phase I cadets can do this
• Define Most Phase II cadets can do this
• Understand
• Live

6
Expectations of Cadet Staff

• Positive leadership example
• Effective communication
• Be proactive about learning job
• How do we meet these expectations?

7
Setting goals/objectives

• Personal
• Lofty
• Tactical objectives

8
Positive Leadership

• Praise early and often
• Not limited to ones own chain of command
• Challenge coins and other incentives
• Dont use as bribery
• Make work the reward
• The teams goals
• Allow people do to their jobs
• Encouragement

9
Correction

• Who and when to correct
• Distinction between reprimand and on-the-spot
  correction
• The clock technique for delivering critique
• Be direct, be swift, and be done with it

10
Encampment Teams

• All teams go through phases of group dynamic
• Forming
• Storming
• Norming
• Performing
• Knowing your teams dynamic will help you apply
  appropriate leadership technique

11
Adjusting style to situation

• Forming Team is new, excited, need lots of
  guidance
• Storming Team frustrations bubbling, requires
  steady hand and encouragement
• Dont sugar coat this phase is important
• Norming Team learning how to work together,
  resurgence in optimism as team jels
• Performing Team is comfortable with each other,
  familiar with roles, requires more hands-off
  leadership

12
One more situation

• Deforming Somewhat unique to encampment, happens
  when team realizes that dissolution of team is
  imminent
• How do you deal with this?

13
Conclusion

• Set personal goals, and goals for your team
• Delineate between lofty goals and day-to-day
  objectives
• Provide positive example, and use encouragement
  and subtle rewards to enforce
• Correct correctly
• Learn to recognize team dynamics

14
Questions?