After a recent hike, during our debrief, one of the students made a comment that was so profound it made me seriously rethink my approach to the whole subject of leadership. We were talking about what makes someone a leader. ‘Taking control,’ said one student. ‘Making things happen,’ said another. The answers were all about command and control, until one boy called out, "helping others!"
Suddenly, another boy said, "Well, why not call it helpership?" I thought about this for a moment and it struck me. What a profound statement! In a single, student-generated word, they had captured the essence of true leadership in a way that was far more accessible and meaningful than any complex theory.
Why Traditional Leadership Models Fail for Students
Often, leadership gets confused with the grandiosity of military or political figures. The vision of a president tweeting something stupid or a repressed dictator joyfully pressing launch buttons further confuses the subject, as these are not true leaders. For students, it's hard to grasp the concept when they are bombarded with these figures.
The reality is that a true leader is there to help others, not themselves. In the military, leaders help others achieve goals under demanding circumstances. In business, they help others achieve a common vision. In sport, it’s all about helping others to achieve goals the individual could never achieve alone.
Implementing 'Helpership' on Your Next Excursion
If team building and leadership are important goals for your school, then instead of starting with complex theory, start with the concept of "helpership." It immediately changes the conversation for any sports, camp, or trip activity.
Reframe the Goal: Rather than asking "who wants to be in charge?", ask "how can we help each other succeed?" This approach can change the entire mindset as to what an individual can do to become a leader.
Facilitate, Don't Dictate: This requires teachers to step back, a key skill taught in modern risk management training for teachers. Your role is to create the conditions for students to practice helping each other.
Effective school excursion risk management isn't just about mitigating physical risks; it's about planning for positive educational outcomes. Build "helpership" directly into your program. You can assign student roles that are service-oriented (e.g., ‘navigator,’ ‘wellbeing monitor,’ ‘gear master’) and use a notes feature to log examples of helpership in action. This turns an abstract concept into a measurable part of your plan.
As students progress through their high-school years, they’re searching for a sense of self and how they can make a difference. The concept of helpership provides a powerful lesson. It starts the conversation in an accessible way so students can begin to understand that, unlike the political egotists of the world, leadership is not about you. It’s about others. It’s about shared goals. It’s about service.
