Business Leaders Can Learn From Camp Counselors

Nashville, TN. As business leaders look to increase employee productivity, they can take some lessons from camp counselors. Silvana Clark, a business speaker and author, encourages managers to learn from summer camp counselors. When kids come home from camp, they usually proclaim, “My counselor is the greatest!” A majority of the camp experience is correlated to the counselor’s attitude and behavior. In the same way, business leaders influence their employee’s motivation to perform at a professional level.

A recent study in USA Today shows only 47% of employees are satisfied with their jobs. “Camp counselors make sure their young campers are satisfied with the camping experience. Business leaders can do the same thing”, says Clark. In her presentations, Clark shares three traits of camp counselors that apply to business leaders also.

1: Camp counselors display leadership. Yes, the familiar “Management by Walking Around” has its merit. Yet it also takes a leader to make suggestions, set an example and actually do something to inspire employees. Camp counselors lead the way on a strenuous hike. They teach archery to squirmy middle-school boys and show ways to get along with cabin mates. Business leaders need to demonstrate their ability to lead, not just observe.

2: Camp counselors encourage risk taking. It’s a good thing mothers aren’t at camp to see their children harnessed on a zip line zooming across a canyon. Camp Counselors tell campers, “You can do it!” “Let’s try again!” In most businesses, risk taking is discouraged. Can employees share new ideas or do suggestions have to be made anonymously to the suggestion box? Are brainstorming sessions at work met with, “That will never work!”? Employees need to be encouraged to think creatively and take appropriate risks to improve business.

3: Camp Counselors are fun! When a counselor is placidly floating in an inner tube, only to be tipped by a group of ten-year-olds, what does he do? A camp counselor laughs, spits water from his mouth and begins dunking all the campers within reach. For the next week, campers giggle together because they shared a fun experience. Having fun at work doesn’t mean wearing red noses and blowing kazoos. How about a bulletin board devoted to staff pets? People love bringing in pictures of their new cat or their beloved Rover wearing a pointed party hat. Give out simple awards such as a Good and Plenty candy bar to someone for always having plenty of good ideas. A bit of fun and light-hearted humor goes a long way to increasing employee productivity and morale, while also reducing stress.

In Clark’s presentations, she suggests business leaders invite a camp counselor to lunch. Have the counselor share their insight in how they manage to inspire, educate and motivate groups of energetic children. Those tips can help improve employee productivity in the business world.

For information: www.silvanaclark.com
silvanac@msn.com