Helping Your Teens Become Leaders:
The Metaphor of Wilderness as a Model for Leadership
By Catherine H. Knott, Ph.D.

Create your community.
Be good to each other.
And do not look outside yourself for the leader.
This could be a good time!

There is a river flowing now very fast.
It is so great and swift that there are those who will be afraid.
They will try to hold on to the shore.
They will feel they are being torn apart, and they will suffer greatly.

Know the river has its destination.
The elders say we must let go of the shore, push off into the middle of
The river, keep our eyes open, and our heads above the water.
See who is in there with you and celebrate.
                -The Elders, Oraibi, Arizona, Hopi Nation (excerpt)

This message from Hopi elders reminds us how important it is for each of us to become the leaders we seek, and to jump into a life of active leadership in our communities. More than ever, our teenagers need our encouragement to learn and practice this essential life skill. It can be difficult to learn to feel competent and comfortable as a leader, especially in our fast-changing society.

While in high school, I spent two summers at a canoe camp that sponsored canoe trips in the Canadian wilderness of Northern Ontario. Each summer I was able to complete two wonderful month-long trips. More than any other training I received later in life, these trips gave me an understanding of what it takes to be a good leader. As we canoed down rivers, we knew we could encounter unexpectedly difficult rapids, bears, hard portage trails, and accidents. I was always glad that our guides were skillful, knowledgeable, and clear about decisions that had to be made. At the same time, they exhibited compassion and understanding for everyone in our group, enabling them to meet individual needs and draw the group together as a whole. We did in fact encounter difficult rapids and bears, and group members occasionally sprained an ankle or got sick. The guides helped us manage these mishaps, and we always finished our trips in good spirits, having reached whatever lakes and rivers we had set out to find.

At a recent community meeting I attended, the volunteer leader let everyone know she was not comfortable continuing in the leadership role, and fostered a discussion about leadership. By the end of the meeting, there were only a few people stepping forward to act as volunteer leader for future meetings. I was struck by how uncomfortable many people felt imagining themselves in the leadership role, even for a simple once-a-week meeting.

While some argue leaders are born, not made, all people can learn to act as leaders in some areas. Even the born leaders learn additional skills from other people, experience, and study. As human beings, we look to leaders to provide safety as we try to reach new goals and meet challenges. Every mountaineering expedition is based on the understanding that quality leadership, and a mutual agreement to rely on that leadership, is essential for success. Business ventures, institutions, and nonprofit volunteer organizations all rely on the leadership of certain members to guide their activities.

Our teenagers need to become leaders to strengthen their own lives and to strengthen their contributions to others. But our teenagers rarely research leadership techniques for their own sake. Instead, they learn about leadership from role models, participating in organizations with leaders, and experimenting with these roles within their peer groups. As our society changes from traditional hierarchical leadership styles to a more cooperative, inclusive leadership model, confusion about how to be a leader is growing.

Wilderness camps and programs are a great place for teens to learn about leadership. The metaphor of the wilderness guide leading an expedition can help teens understand the role of the leader as well as different leadership styles. By using the metaphor to understand the responsibilities of the leader, teenagers can think through leadership roles for themselves and decide whether they are ready for a certain role. As a teacher, I often use this metaphor to explain my role as teacher to my students. The "wilderness guide" in my mind constantly reminds me of the tasks I have as a leader.

To use this metaphor effectively, it helps to break it down into its component parts. Each expedition or wilderness trip is based on certain key components, including materials and practices. By breaking it down into components, teens can use the imagery of the metaphor to determine what matches these components in their own situation.

Deciding How to Decide
The first task of any group is to decide "how to decide." Sometimes this decision is already understood. For example, in a classroom, the teacher is ultimately responsible for the decisions, and in hierarchical organizations such as the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, there is a fixed tradition of leadership. In other instances, the answer isn't quite so clear. But the success or failure of many organizations ultimately depends on resolving this question early on, with the full acceptance of all members, and returning to the question often.

Decisions can be made by setting up a traditional hierarchy, with a president, vice-president, treasurer, and secretary. Or, organizations can rely on majority voting with a simpler form of leadership, or can require consensus decision-making, where everyone must agree. Some organizations even use consensus minus one, where the decision still stands if one person disagrees. The Iroquoian longhouses practiced consensus voting, but anyone who disagreed had to offer a positive alternative solution. Although the skills required for successful leadership in each of these situations may differ, in every case the decision is made, and all agree to abide by it.

Teenagers that want to be leaders should ask themselves, "Who do I want to be in an organization with? How do I want to be part of decision-making? Do I enjoy formal meetings or only informal ones? Do I think everyone needs to be present to make decisions? Could I let someone make an important decision for me, or represent me?"

Map and Compass
Every wilderness expedition relies on a map and compass of some kind to get to their destination. The guide usually provides the map, but must at least be familiar with it and know how to read it. The map provides essential information about the terrain, and also allows the group to choose different routes to reach their goals. The guide helps the rest of the group interpret the choice of route. Whether that means choosing the route alone or in conjunction with other expedition members, it is the guide's responsibility to make sure everyone stays on a safe route, heading in the direction of the goal.

Teenagers considering a leadership role should ask themselves, "What is the map in this situation? Can I read and understand it? Can I help others to interpret it?" In the meeting I attended, the "map" was a book that we were reading together as a study group. In a business or non-profit organization, it could be a list of objectives.

The compass is a tool that allows the guide and others to compare where they are in relation to where they should be. In essence it is a form of communication with a certain capacity for objective measurement. I use a regular weekly journal assignment with students to make sure they understand the class material. They use it to give me feedback about their interests, their feelings, and what they are getting from the materials provided. As a communication tool, it gives me, as "guide," a way to know that everyone is proceeding safely up the mountain of knowledge.

In an organization, a leader can use "check-ins" at meetings to find out people's workload, opinions, and agreement with a project or goal. Other members of the organization use the "check-in" to give feedback to the leader and others about how they feel, what they need, and how they think the work of the organization is going.

Teens in a leadership role should ask themselves, "What is the compass? What is the tool I can use to get objective feedback about where everybody is, and how they are doing, in relation to the goals of this organization?"

Supplies and Safety Equipment
The guide is responsible for making sure the packers for the trip have made adequate provision for all material necessities, including food, shelter, specialized gear, and safety equipment. Guides, and teens, should practice making lists of what is needed. Even if others do the work of listing and gathering materials, the guide is ultimately responsible for having everything needed on the trip.

Essential practices include checking in with expedition members regularly to make sure their needs are met for food, shelter, health, and safety. At a higher level, checking in should include making sure people's need for participation and connectedness is being met, because this will ensure the health and safety of the whole organization. When the American colonists dumped tea into Boston harbor, they were giving the British leaders clear feedback they did not feel that their needs for participation and connectedness were being met. What happened next is typical of what happens to organizations that skip this crucial step.

Teens need to ask themselves, "Is everyone represented in decision-making to each person's satisfaction? How can I help make sure that everyone has everything needed, and is safe?"

Knowing When and How to Ask for Outside Assistance
When Hurricanes Katrina and Rita hit, critical decision-making failed to ensure the safety and survival of some of the residents of New Orleans and surrounding areas. A major part of the problem stemmed from failures in knowing when and how to ask for outside assistance before, during, and after the hurricanes. It was a serious failure of leadership at many levels.

Teen leaders should always ask themselves, "Do I know where to turn for help? How will I know when it is time to ask for outside assistance?"

Opportunities for Teenagers to Learn Leadership Skills
The wilderness metaphor will not provide everything a teenager needs to become a good leader, but it is a great starting point. Next, teenagers need to observe and practice leadership roles. Parents should help their teens look for and participate in the following opportunities:

  1. Attending camps and other programs where teens can learn from good role models is an excellent way to begin leadership training.
  2. Applying leadership skills in established organizations, such as Scouting and 4-H, student organizations, and religious groups, can help teenagers try out new leadership skills in limited roles where traditional practices can guide them.
  3. Starting their own teen organizations. Teenagers can learn an enormous amount about leadership by starting their own organizations. Even when they make mistakes, they will learn invaluable lessons about what to do, and what not to do, the next time. Teenagers can organize everything from social clubs and music bands to charity fundraising groups. Their new skills will benefit themselves, their peers, and often, the wider community as well.

HOPI ELDERS SPEAK
You have been telling the people that this is the Eleventh Hour.
Now you must go back and tell the people that this is The Hour.
And there are things to be considered.

Where are you living?
What are you doing?
What are your relationships?
Are you in right relation?
Know your garden.
It is time to speak your Truth.

Create your community.
Be good to each other.
And do not look outside yourself for the leader.
This could be a good time!

There is a river flowing now very fast.
It is so great and swift that there are those who will be afraid.
They will try to hold on to the shore.
They will feel they are being torn apart, and they will suffer greatly.

Know the river has its destination.
The elders say we must let go of the shore, push off into the middle of
the river, keep our eyes open, and our heads above the water.
See who is in there with you and celebrate.

At this time in history, we are to take nothing personally,
least of all ourselves.
For the moment that we do, our spiritual growth and journey
comes to a halt.

The time of the lone wolf is over. Gather yourselves!
Banish the word struggle from your attitude and your vocabulary.
All that we do now must be done in a sacred manner and in celebration.
We are the ones we've been waiting for.

The Elders, Oraibi, Arizona, Hopi Nation.