JLBC PHASE 3 - Leadership
JLBC Explaining the Activity
JLBC Cadets The activity must be explained to the JLBC team before participating in the activity. The rules of the movement must be clearly outlined and understood by all JLBC cadets before commencement. JLBC Cadets The leader should give step-by-step instructions to ensure the exercise is clearly understood.
JLBC Assigning Tasks as Necessary
JLBC Cadets If any specific tasks need to be performed throughout the activity, the JLBC leader should assign JLBC cadets to these tasks during the introduction of the action.
JLBC Setting Time Limits
JLBC Cadets The JLBC leader is to set a time limit for the JLBC cadets to participate in the activity. JLBC Cadets The JLBC leader must factor in time for debriefing the JLBC cadets after completing the activity. The JLBC team must be told how long they have to participate in or complete the assigned training.
JLBC Relaying Safety Concerns as Necessary
If there are any safety concerns, the JLBC leader must pass these on to the JLBC team before the start of the activity.
JLBC Motivating the Team
Before the start of the activity, the JLBC leader must motivate the JLBC team. The JLBC leader should be enthusiastic and share this enthusiasm with the cadets. The goal of the training is essential, and there is a reason the activity is being performed. The JLBC cadets should be informed of this reason and motivated to achieve the goal.
RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE LEADER WHILE CONDUCTING THE ACTIVITY Start the Activity
The leader must inform the cadets when to start the activity.
Supervise the Team
Throughout the activity, the leader must supervise to ensure the following: • no unsafe practices are being followed;
• the cadets remain focused on the activity; and
• the rules are being followed.
Ensure the Goal Is Achieved
The goal of the activity must be achieved. If the goal is not reached, the team-building activity is not successful as a team-building activity; it just becomes a game. The goal of the activity can sometimes be met without completing the activity. If the goal is not being achieved, the leader may need to:
• refocus the cadets by clarifying the goal of the activity; or
• redirect the activity by modifying the activity to better suit the group.
Stop the Activity if Required
Several reasons a leader may be required to stop an activity. The most important reason to stop the action before completion is safety. If an activity has become a safety issue, the leader must stop the exercise immediately. An activity may also be prevented if the goal is not being achieved. If the action is moving away from the plan, the leader must either stop and refocus the cadets, redirect the activity or move on to another point. An activity may also be prevented if the goal is achieved before the time allotted for completion. Stopping a stir as it reaches its peak will allow the leader to draw out more specific key points and concepts.
Not stopping an activity that has reached its peak will cause the following: • the energy of the team to drop;
• interest in the goal to be lost; and
• understanding of the goal to be lost.
End the Activity Within the Time Limit
A leader must end an activity once the time limit has been met. If the time limit has been met and the action is not complete, it may be essential to attempt the activity at another time. If the purpose of the training is for the cadets to learn, then it is hard to end an action until the learning has occurred. If strict timelines are being enforced, the activity can be stopped. Still, it is essential that the leader explain this during the debriefing and perhaps revisit the action later.
JLBC ELEMENTS OF A DEBRIEFING
JLBC Reviewing the Goal
After completing a JLBC team-building activity, it is essential to review the goal of that activity with the JLBC cadets. JLBC Cadets always want to know why they had to participate in an activity or learn about a specific topic, reinforcing why the learning was meaningful.
JLBC Providing Feedback
The JLBC leader should first ask for feedback from the JLBC group on the activity. JLBC Cadets This can be done through some preset questions about the training and some general questions about team-building activities. It is essential to find out how the cadets felt about the activity (e.g., did they think it was helpful, did they learn anything from participating in the action, etc.). The leader will gain valuable insight from the cadets on the activity itself (e.g., if they would use it again, how it could be conducted differently, what elements of the training they would not change if they did it again, etc.). The most crucial information to elicit from the cadets is if they felt the activity was worthwhile because they learned something valuable by participating.
The leader must also give feedback to the cadets. Whether the goal was met is crucial to focus on during this stage. Why was the goal met, or why not? Was the activity completed, and did this affect the goal being met? The leader should also give and get feedback on how the group interacted throughout the activity. The leader should tell the JLBC cadets how well they did and then provide constructive criticism.