Being a good leader is not just about leading the people, but also about training potential leaders to take over in the future. This is why a leadership training camp is essential. This activity allows you to pass on your skills and knowledge as a leader to people who could possibly become leaders in the future. This camp could last for a few days or even weeks depending on the objectives that you have identified. Organizing this camp is not easy especially if you are starting from scratch. If you have experiences in organizing a camp before, you might know where to begin. If not, below are the suggested steps in order to deal with this training easily.
Step 1. Identify the objectives of the training.
Before doing anything else, make sure that you know what direction you wanted to bring this training to. Write all possible objectives and then cross out the ones that you think are not achievable. In making the objectives, be realistic and squeeze in what you think can be achieved within the number of days allotted for the training.
Step 2. Determine the audience.
Leadership trainings are created for different groups of people. It can be for student leaders, corporate professionals, government officials, community workers, indigenous people, and many more. It could also be an open camp where you can expect people coming from different walks of life. You need to identify who the participants are in order to create appropriate activities.
Step 3. Start identifying the activities to be included in the training.
If you have done leadership trainings before, you might have a bag of activities that are just waiting to be sorted out. You need to know what activities should be prioritized and what are not relevant at all. Pick all the activities that can fit in the allotted days for the training. It is also important to revolve around a certain theme. Of course, the theme must be in line with the objectives set. If you are to outsource a speaker or trainer, make sure that you orient him about the objectives. It will be easier for your resource person to identify the right activities when you discuss with him the details of the training. You also have the right to modify the schedule of activities when you think it is needed.
Step 4. Deal with logistical issues.
This is the most difficult part of the process. If you have a working committee, it is high time to distribute the tasks. You must have a team to deal with registration, food, transportation, venue, accommodation, and documentation. You must also have a set of facilitators who will help you should you decide to have group discussions and workshops. The registration committee must also be able to determine the total number of participants as early as possible since the quantity of meals to be served, number of rooms to be booked and the total supplies to be bought will depend on it.
Step 5. Double check your entire preparations.
If you are done with the preparation stage, go back to step 1 and review everything all over again. A day before the actual training, everything must be set up already. The rooms to be used must have already been organized. The equipment to be used should be checked for possible repair issues. The visual aids that you will use should also be prepared ahead of time. Most of all, since you are running the show, you have to be physically and mentally prepared for the challenge. Sleep well before the training starts so you have the energy needed to run it.
Once the training is over, you will feel relieved and satisfied. Though it is a daunting task to organize the training, you know that it is worth it.