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Leadership Basics

Leadership Basics

Becoming a Walk Leader

This module will help you to

  • Recognise different leadership styles
  • Reflect on your own experiences of leadership
  • Consider leadership issues in bushwalking contexts
  • Match your abilities and experience to the proposed walk

Resources

For group sessions

  • presentation icon_PINK

    PowerPoint presentation

Slides: Leadership basics (PPT, 789KB)

  • presentation icon_PINK

    Presenters' notes

Presenting the topic: Leadership basics (PDF, 166KB)

Note: you may customise the material to reflect your particular club circumstances, with permission from and acknowledgement of Bushwalking Victoria.

For participants and individual leaders

  • Printed information

Handbook: Leadership basics (PDF, 174KB)

  • Bushwalking Manual online reference

Overview of bushwalking leadership, both formal and informal
Learning to be a bushwalking leader
Leadership skills and attributes
Delegation

The information from the online Bushwalking Manual referenced above was sourced from the now out of print Victorian Bushwalking and Mountain Training Advisory Board Manual (last edition 2000). Some of the sections in that manual provide a more theoretical perspective and elaboration of the topics in this module. They are available in print format here for those wishing to delve deeper.

  • Printed information

Review of leadership theories (2 pages, PDF, 83KB)

Learning to be a leader (3 pages, PDF, 135KB)

Understanding group needs (4 pages, PDF, 220KB)

Stages of group development: information relevant for leaders of multi-day walks (3 pages, PDF, 90KB)

Styles of leadership (2 pages, PDF, 114KB)

Situational leadership: how the actions of the leader can relate to the competence of the group (3 pages, PDF, 173KB)

Another leadership theory: how the expectations of group members may influence the leader (4 pages, PDF, 181KB)

Power and influence (4 pages, PDF, 103KB)

Leadership ethics (4 pages, PDF, 119KB)

Delegation:  builds on content of online manual, including delegation styles, and barriers to delegation (3 pages, PDF, 93KB)

Dealing with conflict (4 pages, PDF, 115KB)

Building confidence of individuals and the group:  may be useful for experienced leaders acting as mentors for newer leaders (2 pages, PDF, 79KB)

Problem solving (4 pages, PDF, 147KB)

Learning Activities

Learning Activities can help develop your skills and understanding. In a face-to-face situation, you can do these in groups using screens if available, or using physical resources provided by the presenter. If you are working on your own, these online activities provide a way to become engaged in the learning process. They work better on a laptop or tablet but they can run on a phone.

Watch the leader and learn

This activity presents a series of walk scenarios that many of you may have experienced. Rate the leader’s performance in each case, and think about what you would do in that situation.

Leadership for the occasion

Bushwalking clubs organise a wide range of activities, from easy day walks on popular marked tracks to multiday pack carries in remote areas. As a leader you need to recognise the most important skills and attributes required for the type of walk you choose to lead.

This activity suggests a variety of skills and attributes that a walk leader might possess. Not every leader will show all of them. You need to think about the grade of walk you plan to lead, and the most important characteristics for leading that event. Think about the skills you have now and what you can develop.

Four walk scenarios are presented. Your task is to choose the most important leader characteristics for your type of walk. You can then compare your choices with those of a panel of experienced leaders. If possible, discuss your thoughts with others. There may not be a unique right answer

Key Points

  • Remember that you do not become an effective leader all at once. Build up your experience, talk to other leaders, and improve as you go.
  • Choose a walk that suits your personal interests, abilities and experience. Your first walk as a leader should be well within your personal capability, allowing you to concentrate on leadership.
  • Consider what you know about the personalities and abilities of the members of your group.
  • Be ready to adapt the walk to cater for participants and conditions.
  • Be decisive in cases of dispute or emergency.
  • Take pride in your ability to lead a fulfilling outdoor experience for the group.