5 Lessons I learned from the Boy Scouts

After a 2 year period, I have concluded a volunteer assignment as Assistant Scout Master with the Boy Scouts of America in Denver.

It has been very rewarding to see young men (aged 12-14) acquire important skills and gain confidence in themselves while making an impact in their communities.

Here are 5 lessons I learned through this experience, lessons that definitely translate in the day to day reality of business:

1. Explaining complex concepts and tasks in simple terms and break them down in smaller actionable steps
2. Retain attention span and engagement from the audience (excellent in distracted these digital times!)
3. Keep a positive attitude and have fun at all times, especially when things are rough - even when you are camping in the snow and the food available has been cooked by a 12 years old
4. Delegate to the troop ownership and accountability. They need to take care of things in order to grow
5. Allow the troop (or your team) to make mistakes, learn from them and work together to solve issues. They will look back and see that they have accomplished what seemed impossible just a few hours prior

One last lesson: I learned to use my time more efficiently. When I accepted this assignment, I knew I was giving up hours of free time and would have to make schedule adjustments. I am glad I did. I learned to say no to things that conflicted with my BSA commitments, I become even more efficient in taking care of my to-do list during the workday and removing any excuse or temptation to procrastinate.

Always be prepared!