Believe In Your Patrol
As a Patrol Leader, your own attitude toward the patrol is important. The rest of the patrol will act according to the attitude you show, and the expectations you set for them. That's why it's important for you to believe in your patrol from the very beginning. From the moment you become Patrol Leader, you should show the patrol that you believe in them.
That means you believe in each and every member of the patrol individually, and the group as a whole. It means you set high expectations for the patrol, and believe that they will meet those expectations. The first step in becoming the best patrol in the troop is believing that you can become the best patrol.
This is an important step toward developing the kind of real Patrol Spirit that will lead to the patrol becoming a Real Patrol. Remember, the rest of the patrol will quickly learn from your attitude toward the patrol and act accordingly.
If you develop the attitude that it's impossible for this group of boys to work together in any way, the rest of the patrol will see that. They'll then make it impossible for the patrol to work together. They'll never agree on a menu for the campout. They'll argue over every detail. They'll complain about the work that needs to be done, and be miserable even when the sun is shining.
Why? Because the patrol counts on its Patrol Leader to set the tone and point them in the right direction. To show them how to get where they want to be. If the Patrol Leader doesn't believe in his patrol, his patrol won't believe in themselves. That's the key. Your attitude is important in defining the attitudes of the rest of the patrol, which determines the attitude of the group.
Obviously, that's not easy to do. It's very easy to get discouraged, to get bogged down in the details or overwhelmed by a particular task. Remember though that your attitude toward the patrol can and will change the attitudes of the other members of the patrol. Let's take a look at two Patrol Leaders, Ben and Mike. See if you can tell by their attitudes, what their patrol is like: