Maxs Blog

Lifting the Leadership Bar …

How do you totally engage the mind and body of a young man/woman aged between 16 and 18 years?

Easy, invite him/her to a week-long camp … a “Big Camp” … an experience to share with 100 ‘peers’.

This is no ordinary camp – the Lord Somers Camp … established way back in 1929 by the Governor of Victoria, Lord Somers. Three decades have disappeared since I first spoke at the seaside camp. Always wonderful to be invited back … to any group that I have engaged with!!!  Thanks.

I was soon confronting an image of my younger self, sporting ‘big hair’ – a mullet cut, long sideburns and a ‘droopy’ moustache – how did we ever believe it was okay to look like that?

The core program “Big Camp” … aims to challenge the perceptions that young people hold about themselves and others.

By introducing the teenagers to a broad range of peers … it helps to dismantle social barriers, increase understanding and acceptance of diversity.

The pre-lunch guided tour soon had me witnessing an old- fashioned tug-of- war … much grunting, lots of team encouragement, perspiration … and the ‘team’ chant from the victors. Yes, I comfortably locked arms in song …

First dark blue devils … then a lighter shade of blue group welcomed me into the fold.

You never know your potential until you get way outside of your comfort zone … to stretch … to test your limits … that is the courage to succeed.

Already by Day 3 a serious expression of bonding and collaboration existed.

Next ‘pairs’ tackled a commando-like “assault” course … inspirational images as mate supported mate to overcome challenging obstacles – both mental and physical.

Throughout the demanding week, participants work together to compete as a team, push boundaries and develop friendships that last a lifetime.

They leave camp with a greater understanding of their own and others’ potential and also gain new insights into how they can have a profound impact upon their communities.

Camps are organised for both young men and women of similar age …

Lunch was rowdy and loud. Mess hall spontaneity … much banging of plates, stamping of feet and team chants.  Be noticed.  Order was maintained by the “King” and “Duke” of the Slushies.  A ‘force’ to be reckoned with … top hats, bare torso, stubby shorts, heavy boots and bells. They kept a keen eye out for misdemeanors.

An opposing force to energise against!!!

I spoke after Brigadier Patrick Kidd, who shared experiences gained while on tours of duty in Afghanistan and Iraq.

He said, “There will always be someone weaker than you … we need to look after these people”.

Yes, humanity, humility and empathy are traits of all great leaders!! Unforgettable wisdom.

My brief was to inject humour/mischief. The audience demographic was so young that:

1. No-one would have witnessed my bowling action at the MCG … except on YouTube!
2. Football – forget it … ancient history!
3. Radio … sorry, wireless … ABC circa 1981 … naaah!
4. Wide World of Sports … finished in 1998 … no! 
5. Maybe Billie Birmingham’s 12th  Man tapes … how can a silver cyber surfer, grey haired old bloke, with 5 broken noses, who hails from across the Bass Strait and talks with a slow Tasmanian drawl, connect with these kids?

First, it is customary to stand up on a chair to acknowledge the introduction!  Failing to do so will be greeted by a louder decibel count of unruly reaction – spotlight on sport!!!

Now they know what the guest looks like.

10 minutes was the duration (window of opportunity) allocated to me – tight time frame!

“Slushies” demanded and got silence.

Before I returned to my seat I found myself hypnotizing a chook, like Plucka Duck from Hey, Hey it’s Saturday. First lay the chook (human) on it’s back, then draw an imaginary chalk mark from a metre beyond the chook’s head along the floor to the bright orange beak. Incredibly my hypnotic hand turned the dressed up chook into a mad, barking dog.  It was not the first time the free-range chook had gate-crashed proceedings that day and disrupted proceedings.

The accompanying voice-over described my action as I bowled my way down the aisle between benches, in the direction of a tripod mounted movie camera.  A slow stride down memory lane – right arm over left ear, with the feet crossed at the point of delivery … still biomechanically perfect.

I was then presented with the Lord Somers version of a Green Baggy … well, not so baggy … none-the-less, a nice close to an indelible day.

Back to the media hut where aggregation of digital stills and video was well underway.

Thanks to the 100 young men and women, plus everyone who volunteered their services, to make 2013 an awesome camp … congratulations, Mal Cater (President and Camp Chief) and John Prosser.

www.lordsomerscamp.org.au

Everyone walks away so much better for the experience … everyone able to say, proudly … “I’ve accepted the challenges and have lifted the bar on personal leadership.”

Trust you find the leadership mind map useful? Click to expand it

Have you endured a camp like this?  What did you get from the journey?