Communicate with Confidence/Project Report

              ' REVITALIZE'
To attract membership and encourage leadership
within your organization
When we look at these two issues, one wonders
which comes first. Of course, we need new members with
new ideas from which to elect our leaders but we also need a
strong, well run organization to attract members
So let's start, then with leadership Many of the
strategies in attracting members or leaders are similar, in
any case.
LEADERSHIP-First,
let's define leadership
Leaders are proactive, cause things to happen,
have a vision and stick to it, know the difference between
what the organization is and what it does
Leadership is about accomplishing tasks and
reaching goals through the efforts and co- operation of
others
Effective leaders make things happen! They know
what ought to happen ( have a vision)... they plan a way to
make it happen, then they take the necessary steps to make
it happen Vision... Plan.. Action!
Why do we need them?
.. to keep the organization running
to keep it active and visionary
because their energy and enthusiasm makes our
organization valued both in the community and
within our own membership.
.. they share their knowledge of the organization and
encourage members to learn.
... they have skills to offer the organization that will benefit
it
because the organization has a job to do and needs a way
to accomplish it. Leaders define the job, plan the
method and lead' the way
... they represent the club, and by their guidance, energy,
knowledge and enthusiasm they make it an
organization people want to join.
Identifying potential leaders
Are some people just ' born' leaders or is
leadership a learnable skill? Actually, it is probably a bit of
both
We have met the ' bom' leader, we recognize them
even if they are not in a leadership position. But we have
also seen many who slowly advance into leadership roles
... learning and developing the necessary skills as they
move up the ladder
Think of leaders you know'. What are the qualities
skills and talents you see? For instance; a role model, risk
taker, listener, interested, involved, ambitious, competent,
intelligent, caring, resourceful, energetic, co- operative,
intuitive, loyal, enthusiastic. These are the people you need
to identify in your group.
Look around. A parent is certainly a role model,
listener, caring and energetic . A fanner or small business
owner ... ambitious, competent and a risk taker. Managed a
home budget?... add intelligent and resourceful. Simply
being marned means co- operative, intuitive and loyal.
Companies look for employees who show these
characteristics. If an employee does their assigned tasks
with competence, enthusiasm and intelligence; is
resourceful and shows initiative and loyalty to the company
... he will likely be promoted. When he learns that job and
continues to exhibit those same qualities, he will likely be
promoted again.
In your organization, look for an involved
member who finishes tasks, makes intelligent suggestions,
is knowledgeable about the club, displays enthusiasm and
loyalty to it and seems genuinely interested in it's success
and in his her fellow members
This is a potential leader. Don't immediately elect
her president! To push someone into a job they are not ready
for is to plan' failure.
Encourage her to take on increasingly important
duties and roles. Let her ' climb the ladder,' learning and
developing the necessary skills along the way. As she
becomes comfortable, competent and successful in one
level, encourage her to step up Remember that success is
built on many small successes
If you are a leader..
What is your most important responsibility? It is THE
SURVTVALOFTHEORGANIZATION!
As a leader you take ownership", and it is your
duty to see that the torch is passed on to capable, trained
people, thereby insuring that the organization continues
From your first day in office, you should be
actively pursuing this goal. Don't leave it until the day of