You might be wondering, What is “apprenticeship”?, or, Who is this training plan for?, and, How does this training plan work?
Does the thought of apprenticeship make you nervous? You’re not alone. Like most people, you might be carrying a confusing and contradictory tangle of ideas about leadership, or even bad memories of past leadership experiences. Apprenticeship is both easier and harder than you might think.
Easier because at Frontline character and commitment always trump charisma or copious knowledge. Harder because refusing to lead alone, asking for help, saying “I don’t know,” listening more than talking, and patiently walking alongside others are not behaviors any of us have seen modeled enough. If you are willing, set aside your preconceptions, assumptions, and fears about apprenticeship for a moment, and see if the following five commitments that form the Apprenticeship Training Plan don’t stir something in your heart.