I started off this morning with what I thought was a great Blog talking about hazing, fraternity, love and connections between each. I realized that some of the stuff I was putting in it was sensitive in nature. Naturally before I posted it online I got a few perspectives from people with responsibilities in my organization.
The result was a difference of opinion with one of them about some of the content. My friend (who holds a position in my organization) suggested that I didn’t have to follow his advice despite the fact he and I disagreed. Respectfully though why ask someone’s advice if you don’t intend to follow it? Or why give people roles and responsibilities if you simply plan to usurp them? It devalues their purpose and the structure you have agreed to. So I will not post the debated blog.
Now at the end of the day I still believe I am right on the matter. That is partly my alpha personality peeking through. The responsible leader in me though says respect my friend’s advice and his role. If I really think I am right and he is “wrong” I need to work to change his mind first.
My situation is not so different than what many chapter leaders face. Many times chapter leaders assign roles and responsibilities to others in the group with hopes those other members will do something exactly the way the leaders wanted. When the person does it differently or disagrees with the leaders it can tempting to simply overrule them and do it the way the leaders want. Doing so is not healthy for the organization. The positions are assigned for a reason. The responsibility is given for a reason.
If leaders don’t believe in their members they shouldn’t entrust them with roles and responsibilities to begin with. If they do believe in their members they need to be willing to allow the members to own the roles and responsibilities. Leaders also need to remember that those roles and responsibilities given to others are training opportunities for future chapter leaders. If the other members serve as faces only and the leaders do everything you will have a group of people that take over with no experience. You will also see many members in the chapter bitter about how it is operating.
Some might argue that in the end responsibility falls on chapter leaders and I think that is accurate. If a chapter fails to recruit the leaders get the blame. If a chapter has financial issues the leaders get the blame. At the end of the day a leader does need to step in when something is not being accomplished. The difference in such situations is that there is a failure in completion, not simply a difference in how completion happens.
A good friend of mine wrote a book called Motivating the Middle (T.J. Sullivan). It is a great read regarding how to get the members of your chapter that seem apathetic more involved. One of the ways is to give those members roles and responsibilities and let them act. Chapter leaders will be amazed at what can be accomplished. You will also be amazed about how well the organization will continue to run.
Now on to convincing my friend and fellow role player in the Fraternity that I am right….
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