Re: A Bad Night at Scouts

Richard, you say that your ASM is criticising the program and that you
intend to deal with it by ignoring him. What kind of criticism is he
making? If it is directed at the program, maybe he is trying to improve
the program by identifying weak points so that you can discuss a plan for
overcoming them. If it is directed at the people running the program,
then maybe he is trying to take over, but it is really impossible to tell
from what you have given us to go on.
Ignoring an ASM who is bringing up what he believes to be problems in the
program is, in effect, excluding him from leadership. It would be better
to solicit from him what he believes to be the solution to the problem,
and if his ideas are not stepping on the toes of the boy leaders, giving
him a chance to try implementing his solution. That makes HIM responsible
for the problem. (I call it the Put Up or Shut Up approach)
He may just find that the way it was being done is the way it was being
done for a good reason, or he may be able to make an improvement. Either
way it is a win/win solution, either he learns he was wrong and shuts up,
or the program gets better, so you have nothing to lose.
If his criticisms run more along the line of 'this sucks' or 'you suck'
then you have a completely different kettle of fish. Tell him you can
prove to him that he sucks too, and then do so by creating a vacuum where
he used to be.
YIS, Susan

• Messages sorted by: [ date ][ thread ][ subject ][ author ]
• Next message
• Previous message