From Camper to Leader: The Mindset Shift You Need When Taking On a New Role

This summer, both of my daughters are volunteering at a kids’ camp at our church with their grandma. My youngest is 12, and my oldest is 14. In Ontario, Canada, high school students need to complete volunteer hours to graduate. My oldest starts high school this September, and students are allowed to begin their hours the summer before Grade 9. By the end of camp, she will have almost all of her hours completed already.

But what struck me most was not the hours or the camp itself, it was the mindset shift required for both of my girls as they stepped into completely new roles. Here is some of the advice I gave them about taking this on and what the expectations were. And the truth is, if you are going to take on a new role, whether at work, in your community, or in life, this applies to you too.

The Helper Mindset

For my youngest, camp has always meant being a camper. This year, she is a helper, which means she cannot approach the week the same way she always has. I told her: if you want to be invited back as a helper, you need to act like one.

That means looking around and seeing what needs to be done:

• Does a child need help opening something?

• Is someone struggling with their craft?

• Can you step in before being asked?

If she wants to grow into leadership someday, it starts now by stepping up, being responsible, and making the shift in her own head. No one else can do that for her.

The Leadership Mindset

For my oldest, the challenge looks different. She is not a camper or a helper anymore, she is a leader. That comes with new responsibilities. She has been given materials, attended meetings, learned the songs, and done her prep work. When camp begins, the kids and helpers will look to her for guidance and answers.

It does not mean she cannot ask for help when she needs it. But she cannot show up acting like a helper, because she is not one. Her role requires preparation, confidence, and leadership. Watching her take ownership of that responsibility has been inspiring.

Why This Matters for All of Us

The truth is, we all face these moments in life and work. Maybe it is taking on a new project, being promoted to manager, or stepping into an executive role. Each transition comes with greater responsibility, and that means we need to show up differently.

Leaders do not wait for instructions. They prepare, anticipate, and take initiative. They recognize that success requires a mindset shift from what do I need to what does this role, and the people I serve, need from me.

As Canadian Olympian and mental health advocate Clara Hughes once said:

“Sometimes you don’t know your own strength until you come face to face with your greatest weakness.”

Her words remind us that growth often happens when we step into unfamiliar territory, face challenges head on, and rise to meet them.

Call to Action

Think about the role you are in, or the one you are stepping into. Are you still approaching it with the mindset of where you were, or are you fully stepping into where you need to be now and what is expected of you?

Growth starts with that shift. What is one area where you can step up today?