In most organizations, including camps, outstanding performers make up about 25% of the staff while poor performers account for another 25%. In the middle are the other 50%. These are the staff members who day after day diligently go about their work and consistently meet the camp's expectation. Occasionally they excel and occasionally they disappoint but for the most part they do what is asked of them.
As a leader it's easy to get caught up in focusing on the top and bottom 25% and to ignore the middle 50%. The top 25% stand out and are easy to notice. The bottom 25% demand our attention as we repeatedly are forced to deal with the consequences of their poor performance. Those who quietly do what needs to be done, day in and day out, are easy to forget.
Why do we as camp leaders need to focus on the folks in the middle?
1. They are the people who make the camp run.
2. They have the greatest potential for growth.
3. Investing in the middle produces more top performers and what camp couldn't use more great staff.
4. Raising the level of performance in the middle has the most leverage in raising the overall performance of the camp.
Welcome to the Summer Camp Leadership blog. For those of us who lead summer camps, making a positive difference in the lives of young people is our passion. Turning that passion into a reality, however, takes more than the ability to lead songs, teach archery or plan craft projects. Creating camp experiences that truly transform lives takes leadership. Leadership that creates a vision for the future, leadership that inspires and engages others, leadership that remains focused and stays the course. My hope is through this blog you'll find ideas, inspiration and tools to help you be a great summer camp leader.