May 04, 2012: Adaptation
Category: Administration - CEOs
Posted by: David M Patt
We all have attitudes about what should be done in associations, how those things should be done, and when they should be done.
But our ability to act tends to be influenced by these factors:
1. Personality
2. Situation
3. Resources
4. Tenure
An assertive person is likely to seize and receive more opportunities to make and implement decisions than will a hesitant, deferential person.
A Board that understands the value of professional association management will leave more decision-making opportunities to its staff than will a Board that wants to be involved in operations and logistics.
An organization with greater financial resources is likely to be in a better position to launch, maintain, and grow programs than will a cash-strapped association.
A longer-tenured professional is more likely to be trusted and followed than is a newer employee, who may still be watched closely by Boards or staff supervisors.
In most associations, staff leaders need to reconcile the gap between how they think things should be done and how they actually are done. Ideally, that gap will not be too big to close (diplomatically, of course).
But our ability to act tends to be influenced by these factors:
1. Personality
2. Situation
3. Resources
4. Tenure
An assertive person is likely to seize and receive more opportunities to make and implement decisions than will a hesitant, deferential person.
A Board that understands the value of professional association management will leave more decision-making opportunities to its staff than will a Board that wants to be involved in operations and logistics.
An organization with greater financial resources is likely to be in a better position to launch, maintain, and grow programs than will a cash-strapped association.
A longer-tenured professional is more likely to be trusted and followed than is a newer employee, who may still be watched closely by Boards or staff supervisors.
In most associations, staff leaders need to reconcile the gap between how they think things should be done and how they actually are done. Ideally, that gap will not be too big to close (diplomatically, of course).
