The Accidental Leader -Leadership Lessons From Baden-Powell
As I spend time researching material I use for my speaking and consulting business I often come across individuals that are, what I like to call, accidental leaders.
Accidental leaders are individuals, who, when placed in tough situations, step up to the challenge and create lasting change.
Over the next few articles I will introduce you to a few of my favorite accidental leaders.
If you have ever been involved in the Boy Scout movement, Baden-Powell is a familiar name.
He is the founder of the international scouting movement and was Chief Scout for over 30 years.
When he started his military career, founding a worldwide youth movement was not his primary objective.
During the Second Boer War, B-P as his friends called him, was promoted to the rank of Colonel.
In fact, his ingenuity, drive and superior reconnaissance or scouting skills helped him become the youngest Colonel in the British Army.
His primary responsibility during this war was to organize the frontiersman to assist the regular army.
While performing his duties, he was trapped in the Battle of Mafeking, and was surrounded by more than 8,000 members of the Boer army.
B-P overcame these insurmountable odds and held control over the fort at Mafeking for 217 days.
He was able to maintain control, despite dwindling food and sparse troops by creating fake mine fields and having his troops simulate crossing non-existent barb wired fences.
Back in Britain, the papers, eager to show progress in the war, were making B-P a hero.
The entire nation cheered him on as the Battle of Mafeking progressed.
Following his success at Mafeking, B-P was promoted to Major-General.
Upon his return home, he was surprised to find that the local youth organizations were using his book, "Aids to Scouting", a military publication, to teach important outdoor skills.
B-P decided to rewrite this book with a youth audience in mind, and in August, 1907 he held the first youth scout encampment on Brownsea Island.
This living experiment was successful and the scouting movement was launched.
B-P was an accidental leader, one who was able to seize his moment and create a lasting organization.
Millions of youth have been molded by the values taught during their scouting years.
What vision can you seize in your organization, and how will it affect those who will follow you?
Accidental leaders are individuals, who, when placed in tough situations, step up to the challenge and create lasting change.
Over the next few articles I will introduce you to a few of my favorite accidental leaders.
If you have ever been involved in the Boy Scout movement, Baden-Powell is a familiar name.
He is the founder of the international scouting movement and was Chief Scout for over 30 years.
When he started his military career, founding a worldwide youth movement was not his primary objective.
During the Second Boer War, B-P as his friends called him, was promoted to the rank of Colonel.
In fact, his ingenuity, drive and superior reconnaissance or scouting skills helped him become the youngest Colonel in the British Army.
His primary responsibility during this war was to organize the frontiersman to assist the regular army.
While performing his duties, he was trapped in the Battle of Mafeking, and was surrounded by more than 8,000 members of the Boer army.
B-P overcame these insurmountable odds and held control over the fort at Mafeking for 217 days.
He was able to maintain control, despite dwindling food and sparse troops by creating fake mine fields and having his troops simulate crossing non-existent barb wired fences.
Back in Britain, the papers, eager to show progress in the war, were making B-P a hero.
The entire nation cheered him on as the Battle of Mafeking progressed.
Following his success at Mafeking, B-P was promoted to Major-General.
Upon his return home, he was surprised to find that the local youth organizations were using his book, "Aids to Scouting", a military publication, to teach important outdoor skills.
B-P decided to rewrite this book with a youth audience in mind, and in August, 1907 he held the first youth scout encampment on Brownsea Island.
This living experiment was successful and the scouting movement was launched.
B-P was an accidental leader, one who was able to seize his moment and create a lasting organization.
Millions of youth have been molded by the values taught during their scouting years.
What vision can you seize in your organization, and how will it affect those who will follow you?
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