In many situations in life, there are just some things you can't learn until you "sit in the chair." As a Field Director, I thought I had a pretty good idea of what it meant to be a Scout Executive (SE). After all, I supervised, helped hire, and worked closely with my SE. When I became an Assistant Scout Executive, I learned a new level of "what I did not know." I felt prepared the day I was hired as the Scout Executive of the Black Hills Area Council, then we ran out of money, 8 summer camp staff walked out, I had to learn how to deal with Youth Protection issues, and so on. The four and a half years I spent in the Black Hills Area Council were quite the ride. I learned:
Face the challenges and celebrate the successes.
An active and engaged Board is critical to the success of any Council.
Surround yourself with smart people.
Always be looking for people with the skills the Council needs.
Don't say no for people. Ask and let them answer.
Committees are key.
Balancing the budget is critical.
Don't spend money you don't have.
Deal with staff personality issues quickly.
Don't be afraid to address the hard issues.
"The Council" includes both the dedicated volunteers and the professional staff.
Know when to react and when to sit still.
Ask for help.
Take time to interact with the Scouts.
Find what makes camp unique and capitalize on that.
Define camp profitability and evaluate it.