Mokena Boy Scout Troop 725

Here is a good article on leadership with a small snippet of the points below

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Leadership

Leadership has been defined and described in many ways. A leader can be described as a person who can influence others to accomplish a goal or objective resulting in an organization that is more effective. Some of the necessary attributes of a leader are beliefs, values, ethics, trustworthiness, character, knowledge, and skills. While it may seem that some people are natural leaders, is has been shown that most people choose to become leaders and take the necessary training to develop leadership skills. The Scouting program begins that training early in the Scout’s involvement by immersing him in an organization that stresses leadership and the importance of being a good follower. A good follower is a person who cheerfully does more than is asked for or expected by his leaders. He is the kind of Scout who when asked to search for firewood agrees on the spot without moaning. Other Scouts seeing this Scout’s willingness to do more than his share see a potential leader for the patrol. My experience indicates that Scouts, or former Scouts, are more willing to volunteer for projects that serve the public, their church, and community. It is this type of follower who will ultimately rise to leadership positions because service is a part of his character. I frequently use the following saying in talks on ethics:Sow a thought, reap an act.Sow an act, reap a habit.Sow a habit, reap a character.Sow a character, reap a destiny.Scouting, and its commitment to service and duty, exemplifies the thoughts in that saying. Scouts have, through their experience, developed the character it describes and are in the process of reaping a destiny. The Boy Scout program accomplishes its goal of training leaders and good citizens by:

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•Establishing a troop organization that provides chances for leadership at both the patrol and troop level.

•Setting up an advancement program that leads a boy to achieve many skills rising to the ranks of Tenderfoot, Second Class, and First Class. This achievement results in greater confidence in his abilities to meet new challenges.

•Setting up a merit badge program to challenge the boys in certain required areas, and Star and Life ranks to develop leadership skills.

•Establishing a top rank of Eagle Scout which requires a project including the organization and leadership of fellow Scouts, adults, volunteers, etc