Collaborate.

It means working together to do or create something.

We talk about it a lot, but for most of us it doesn’t describe the way we’re most comfortable getting things done.

• It takes time. 
• It challenges our thinking. 
• It creates change. 

But it produces better results.

Building Relationships is a part of Unit Service culture because our role as commissioners is to help unit leaders better serve more youth through Scouting. Volunteer leaders are ultimately responsible for serving the young people who join a unit; we can’t do that.

Working collaboratively, unit leaders and commissioners can:

• identify a unit’s strengths and its needs (and every unit has some of each
• identify the needs that, if addressed, would have the best, quickest impact on the youths’ experience
• develop plans to address the highest priority needs

Unit commissioners can’t be successful without collaboration. They should be their unit leaders’ single, best source of information; they should be able to connect their unit leaders with the resources they need to deliver a program that attracts and retains youth and other adults. Collaboration ensures the information they provide and the resources they identify will be productive because unit leaders will see them as meeting their needs.

The need to collaborate isn’t limited to the work unit commissioners do with unit leaders. It’s equally important to administrative and roundtable commissioners throughout our movement. It knocks down silos, and identifies new resources and solutions. It creates opportunities to ensure the safety of the youth we serve, to grow Scouting, and to build a firm financial foundation for our councils.

Collaboration is the key to our culture. It enables us to be the heart, to build relationships, and to change lives.

Let’s get more things done better.

Let’s collaborate.