Commissioner Service Key Components in Providing a Quality Program

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Commissioner Service Key Components in
Providing a Quality Program

• Creating Accountability with Commissioners

Rick Hillenbrand Council Commissioner National
Capital Area Council scouting_at_cox.net
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Accountability 101 - Where to Start

• Establish expectations
• Roles, Responsibilities Expectations
• Position Descriptions

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Lead by example

• If your actions demonstrate you arent
  accountable
• ..You just set the real standard
• Walk the talk
• Encourage continuous, open dialog between senior
  leaders and front line leaders
• Visit your units (Service Areas, Districts) at
  roundtables, meetings, CAMPOREES, summer camp,
  etc.
• Talk to the troops (those not wearing
  silver/gold tabs)
• Be responsive

4
Hold people accountable

• You get what you measure
• Performance
• Tasks and Action Items
• Periodic performance evaluations and feedback
• Obtain commitments
• What do your meetings focus on?
• Your agenda documents what is important
• Meeting agenda triage
• Sometimes you cant cover every topic

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Be Human - be compassionate

• This is a volunteer position
• Motivational factors are not the same as a paid
  position
• Ask dont tell
• More critical than when paid
• Lead by coaching and mentoring not by driving
• Friendship and camaraderie
• Shared goals and objectives a feeling of caring
• Success Breeds Success
• Establish a climate that publically recognizes
  success
• District Award of Merit Silver Beaver
  nominations

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If All Else Fails

• When (not if or where) necessary, action is taken
  to improve performance
• Up to and including FIRING those that refuse to
  be accountable
• We dont really fire volunteers. We
  reassign them to positions More consistent with
  their available time, desires strengths.
• But you have to be able to pull the trigger
• However, be careful of
• Paralysis by analysis
• Buck-fever
• Second chances work
• Reassignment

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Four Secrets to Accountability

• Establish Expectations
• Obtain Commitments
• Measure Performance
• Reward Success
• Accountability is valuable to ensure the quality
  of the program at all levels, from top to bottom.
• In large organizations SELF POLICING
  accountability should be quasi-MANDATORY.