Learning Leadership From Kermit the Frog
As with everything, we can pick up messages everywhere. I like one we from The Muppet Movie. I’ve spent 10 years working as a professional with the Boy Scouts and eight years before that working with other volunteer organizations. All the successful groups I’ve worked with had one thing. All the failing ones lacked it. You need at least one person to believe in the mission – come hell or high water. You need one person who isn’t going to let things fail. You need a Kermit.
Well, I have a dream too, but it’s about singing and dancing and making people happy. It’s the kind of dream that gets better the more people you share it with. And I found a whole group of friends who have the same dream, and that makes us sort of like a family. – Kermit the Frog, The Muppet Movie
You need someone who can remain calm while the world is going to seed. When everything looks bad, who’s going to keep the thing going? Who can keep their positive attitude and sense of humor when things don’t look good? Who will be the happy voice of sanity when the world around them is full of crazy people with boomerang fish?
One person who’s going to be the first one in, and the last one out.
Kermit gets no after no, but he persists. His enthusiasm for the goal brings others in. He makes them believe in themselves, and when he gets amnesia, they pick up the goal and work to make it succeed. He’s built a legacy.
You’re Richer Than You Think
I’ve found Kermits everywhere I’ve gone. When I was coaching Little League in Boston, George Brennan was a Kermit. He looked much more like Statler or Waldorf, but he was in his 70s and was involved with the Mission Hill Little League for over 60 years. Not only did he coach one of the teams in the Major division, but he pitched to the kids in the Minors. Every Saturday morning, like clockwork. I was 21, and George beat me there every time. Everybody knows someone in their life like Georgie Brennan. People like that inspire you. You probably have people like this already. You might need to move them around.
But you have to look for that inspiration. Who really buys the message, and can share it with others? Which person is putting their money and time where their mouth is? Who’s working their way to the front of the crowd when you’re talking to the group? When it’s time to get started, who’s there first? Who’s the one who makes everyone feel important? Who keeps things moving?
And most importantly, who has the unshakable belief in success. Who’s going to keep getting up when they’re knocked down? Are you?
I’ve known extremely dedicated volunteers who worked really, really hard and got really, really frustrated. Because while they put in the work, they couldn’t share their enthusiasm. They made the volunteer work that they loved seem like the Labors of Hercules. And when they asked for help, nobody stepped forward. It’s not that they didn’t have enthusiasm, but they were reluctant to share it with others. They kept it to themselves.
It starts with You, But It’s Not About You
Look at the big successful groups you’ve been a part of. In every case, you’ll find at least one Kermit.
And if you don’t see the Kermit, then you have to be the Kermit. You have to make sure there’s a schedule, and that somebody’s there to open the doors. Somebody has to make sure that things go forward. You have to hold the meeting if only two people show up to your meeting. You have the same enthusiasm for that one meeting that you’d have if you had a packed room.
Remember that the best leaders aren’t the ones who make us feel good about them, but feel good about ourselves. They’re the ones who convince us that we’re important and that we can do anything if only we put our minds to it.
Can you see the best in people? Everybody is good at something. Are you willing to go deep enough to find out what that thing is? Can you have the courage to see it when they don’t?
I’ve never worked with a volunteer I didn’t find awesome in one way or another. We all have our own gifts and our own obstacles. It’s what you do with them that matters.
Lastly…
You have to keep smiling. Stay Positive. Keep making jokes.
And always remember that…