See yourself as a "change agent," acting as a catalyst to move the
organization forward
Be prepared to take risks
Imagine the future
Free your mind of rigid constraints
See, feel, and sense the future in as much detail as possible
Be creative/be unique
Articulate the future
Be passionate and clear about the vision
See yourself as a person who "focuses the projector"; no matter how
much input others have in shaping the vision, the leader must articulate it
Create slogans/themes that capture your vision
Enlist others in the vision
Foster commitment from the group by pulling others into the dream
Seek input and innovation from others - listen!
Utilize "key" people to promote change
Make work valuable and do-able
Analyzing a Change
Briefly describe a change you would like to see initiated in your
organization or on your campus.
What are the forces which could help you make that change?
What alternative strategies could you follow to increase the strength
of these forces?
What are the forces blocking the change you desire?
What alternative strategies could you follow to decrease the strength
of these forces?
Reducing Resistance to Change
Be prompt. Announce an impending change as quickly
as possible. Don't give the rumor mill a chance to grind out stories that
aren't true but are hard to deny.
Explain the reasons. Tell members why the change is
important and how it affects them. Will it help do work better and faster?
Why is it better than the old way? Will it help the organization and
members prosper? If you distort the reasons, members will be doubly
antagonistic when they learn the truth.
Explain what the change means to the individual. Try
to let each member know how the change will affect him. Explain the
benefits and pledge to protect your people against losses.
Ask for advice. Many experts overlook the good
first-hand experience they can get from people who do jobs. Your members
can often point out the real pitfalls in a plan that looks perfect on paper.
Invite participation. Get your members into the act
whenever you can.
Don't change for the sake of change. Some leaders
try to prove their own worth by making frequent shake-ups in routines.
Members know this and resist every change, even the worthwhile ones.
Avoid trivial changes. It might seem wise to move a
file cabinet, but if it causes a fight, why bother? Save your energy for
more important changes.
Avoid surprise. Lay the groundwork carefully.
Discuss the problems caused by the old method and then suggest, "Let's try
it this way and see how it works."
Be careful of status. Every group has status symbols
that are zealously sought and jealously guarded. Don't let a change build
one member's status at the expense of another's.
Keep out the ruts. A good way to pave the way for
progress: have members alternate duties as much as possible. A planned
program of job movement won't let people become firmly entrenched in
private little procedures. Two extra benefits: it cuts down boredom and
makes your work force more flexible.
Avoid chain reactions. Don't unsettle your members
by springing a batch of changes, one right after the other. Try to space
them out or make one big change.
Sweeten one change with another. If you've got to
make a change that won't be popular, try adding some benefits that make it
more palatable.
Don't accuse members of resisting change. It may be
true, but most people don't realize it or won't admit it. You'll only
force them to try all the harder to prove that a new method won't work.
Allow plenty of time. Don't expect any new
procedure, idea, equipment, or layout to be an instant success. It takes a
while for people to adjust.
Watch for red flares. Hard-core resistance signals
that something is wrong. When you face it, don't try to bulldoze the
change through. First, find out why people don't like the change, and work
from that point to soothe their fears or even think more about the proposed
change.
Don't be afraid to say "forget it." If a change
really isn't any good (and some of them aren't), why not call the whole
thing off? You don't gain anything by forcing your members to adjust to
something they know isn't necessary.
Making a Vision a Reality
Develop a mission statement
What is a mission statement?
written creed or purpose statement
rational description of why the organization exists
may include:
What do you want the organization to be?
What do you want the organization to do?
Values and principles upon which your organization is based
to an outsider, it makes "what the organization is all about" clear,
simple and understandable
defines integrity of the organization
allows for visualization and clarity of focus
helps members achieve their potential through the leadership it provides
Questions to consider when developing a mission statement:
Why do we have the National Fraternity and local chapters?
Who are our constituencies and how do we serve them?
What do we want our organization to be? What do we want our
organization to do?
What values and principles is the organization based upon?
Organization's mission statement worksheet
Organization you wish to write a mission statement for:
The benefits a mission statement would bring to this organization:
People that should be involved in writing this mission statement:
Remember, without commitment, there is no involvement.
Preparations I can make for writing this mission statement:
Next steps to be taken:
Conduct a needs assessment
It is important that you provide the opportunity for your
constituencies to tell you what types of services they need or want. Get
their input on the roles of the chapter. It is important to share your
mission statement when doing this and get the buy-in from your
constituencies.
Needs Assessments can take on many forms. They can be simple or
complex. They can be administered in a variety or ways: through the mail;
in a workshop, retreat, or meeting format; or through personal
conversations. The most important aspect is that results are tallied,
discussed, and used as a basis for determining roles and goals for your
chapter.
Clarify mission statement by defining roles
What are the various roles that chapters and the National organization
play?
What are the roles of the various executive officers in relations to
servicing your constituencies?
What roles do committees play in regard to the mission statement?
What role can the chapter play in stimulating the growth and
development of its members?
How do we serve the masses with so many differences in an organization?
Does our role change with changes in the chapter, the National, the
IFC, or the University?
Define goals of the organization
Goals are plans for the future that will provide direction for the
coming year and define how we achieve or roles.
Why set goals?
to provide a focus for the group's efforts
to give direction and provide a course of action for your organization
to motivate members
to clarify and communicate what your organization is striving for
to provide a basis to measure success and accomplishments
to save time by allowing your organization to plan and prepare for the
future
to define your group
to allow the group to better manage energy and available resources
to create an opportunity for the group to control its destiny and
develop greater group esteem
Elements of good goals
A GOAL is statement of what WILL be accomplished; NOT the problem at
hand. Wanting to achieve a goal, believing it can be achieved, and
expecting that it will be achieved are three necessary steps for goal
realization. Remember that GOALS should be:
realistic, but represent enough of a challenge to make it worth
striving for
attainable
acceptable to membership - it should represent the feelings of the
members of the group
by consensus - members are not motivated to work for that which they
don't feel is important
prioritized
measurable
divided into short and long term - it is a statement of what the group
wants to accomplish within a time frame
specific
properly defined
operational
financially feasible
constructive
flexible
relevant - it ties back to the basic purpose or mission of the group
Steps for setting goals
brainstorm goals as a group
evaluate past group successes and failures
address new things the group wishes to accomplish
use information from the Needs Assessment
from the brainstormed list, choose those goals to focus on for the
coming year. Remember to be realistic in what can be accomplished
prioritize the chosen goals
develop an action plan by breaking each goal into the steps necessary
to achieve it
set timelines and deadlines for each step of the goal
determine what is to be done
determine how each step will be accomplished
assign a person responsible for the goal/step
determine resources necessary (people, money, material and time)
define desired results and how they will be measured
enlist the support of others
make sure everyone is included in establishing and carrying out the goals
continually evaluate your progress
many groups fail to reach their goals because they don't follow
through with the action stages of goal setting
be flexible - allow your goals the change to meet circumstances
be accountable to due dates
criteria for evaluation should be clear when the goals are set
reward the group when a goal is accomplished
if unsuccessful, determine why you did not succeed, then adjust and
try again
use assessments to help set goals (university, IFC, or National
standards, programs or award applications)
make your goals visible. Let others know.
Objectives
Definition: The means through which goals are achieved.
Criteria for a good objective statement:
It relates directly to established goals.
It specifies a single key result to be accomplished.
It is specific. It is observable, countable, verifiable.
It specifies a target date for completion.
It specifies the"what" and "when" needed to accomplish the goal in
question.
It is realistic and attainable, yet challenging.
It is consistent with available resources and with organizational
rules, policies, and practices.
Objective statement should be compatible with each other.
Testing the validity of your goals and objectives.
Is it a guide to action?
Does it facilitate decision making
Does it identify a course of action
Is it specific?
Is it concrete
Is it time and place specific
Can it be duplicated
Can it be controlled and measured?
Can the final product be graded objectively in some manner
Is it possible to identify milestone points for progress checks
Can it be altered and managed externally
Is it ambitious and challenging?
Does it call for involvement above current responsibilities
Is there a "stretch point" that identifies expectations
Is there a level of vitatlity attached to the event
Is there an understanding of internal and external constraints?
Is there adequate internal motivation to ensure commitments and completion
Do legal or procedural constraints exist that could alter or inhibit
follow through
Can it be related to the broader vision?
Is the external motivation significant?
Does peer incentive exist? Is the goal or objective positioned as
valuable in the organization (internal motivation)
Using a Goal Board in your organization
Decision Making
Who makes the decisions?
The chapter leadership needs to make the decisions on behalf of all
chapter members. You were elected for a reason - to lead! This does not
mean that you make decisions that will purposely alienate chapter members
or lead to hostility; rather, it means that you must decide to do what is
right (corresponds to the values and ethics of your organization) and is in
the best interest of the chapter. Most decisions should help achieve your
vision - will it or will it not help you achieve your desired state?
It is wise to discuss important decisions at an executive board
meeting prior to a general meeting. During this time, the chapter leaders
can discuss the issue, all of the options, the pros and cons of each
alternative and all possible outcomes. Then, the chapter leadership should
make a decision. Once a decision is made by a majority of the executive
board, it needs to be presented to the chapter in a
unified fashion. To be effective in leading a chapter,
the executive board must present a unified front. Even if you initially
disagree with a decision, once it is made, it is your job to support it and
the chapter leadership.
When making decisions, it is always important to listen to dissenting
views, but what is best for the chapter as a whole should determine the
outcome. You will never please everyone, but as leaders, you must make the
decisions.
The Right Questions to Ask
How is the problem similar to other situations? Different from others?
What is its history?
What are the major advantages of the current situation? The major
disadvantages?
What are the major functions to be performed in this situation?
What functions are being neglected?
What is the situation related to, both in the past and currently?
What are the latest relevant developments in the field?
Are there opposing opinions?
What does the future appear to hold?
What further avenues should be investigated?
Giving Directions
Prepare the Workers
Put them at ease
Find out what they already know about the job
Get them interested in learning about the job
Place them in the correct job for their abilities
Present the Operation
Tell, show, illustrate and question carefully and patiently
Stress key points
Instruct clearly and completely, one point at a time, but never more
than the workers can master
Try Out Their Performance
Have them perform the job for you
Have them tell, show and explain the key points to you
Ask them questions and correct their errors
Continue until you are confident that they know
Follow Up
Put them on their own
Check them frequently
Make sure they know who to go to for help
Encourage questions
Get them to look for key points as they progress
Gradually withdraw extra coaching, but follow up as workers progress
Delegation
A Parable
Once upon a time, there was a Little Red Hen who owned a wheat field.
"Who will help me harvest the wheat" she asked.
"Not I," said the pig. "I don't know how."
"Not I," said the cow. "I'm too clumsy."
"Not I," said the dog. "I'm too busy with some other things."
So the Little Red Hen did it herself.
"Who will help me grind the wheat into flour?" she asked.
"Not I," said the pig. "That is another vocation in which I'm untrained."
"Not I," said the cow. "You can do it much more efficiently."
"Not I," said the dog. "I'd love to, but I'm involved in some matters of
greater urgency. Some other time perhaps."
So she did it herself.
"Who will help me make some bread?" asked the Little Red Hen.
Again, all declined, so she did it herself.
That evening when guests arrived for her big dinner party, she had
nothing to serve expect bread. She had been so busy doing work that could
have been done by others that she had forgotten to plan a main course,
prepare dessert, or even set the table. The evening was disaster, and she
lived unhappily ever after.
Moral: A good leader will find a way to involve others to the extent
of their ability. To do the job yourself is the chicken way out!
Why Delegate?
Delegation is an ethical responsibility you owe to yourself, to those
with whom you work, and to your organization.
Yourself
allows time for planning
allows time for organizing
allows time for non-organizational pursuits
teaches valuable lessons in how to work with and develop others
builds trust
encourages open communication
Members
motivates
builds self-esteem
encourages creative problem solving
stimulates initiative
trains future leaders
build trust
facilitates communication
stimulates creativity
allows significant contributions
Organization
promotes perpetuation
opens new avenues of creativity
promotes increased productivity
improves overall efficiency/effectiveness
A leader cannot do everything for an organization. There are only so
many hours in a day and so many tasks one person can do. Besides, an
uninvolved member soon becomes apathetic, unmotivated member who most
likely drops out of the group. A good leader learns to use the skill of
"delegation" to help his organization develop to its fullest potential.
Principles of Delegation
Assigning responsibility to others does not lessen your
responsibility. It gives you the capacity to handle greater responsibility.
Never assign tasks to a member solely because this task is unpleasant
to you.
Delegate only if you have confidence that the member is capable of
handling the task
When delegating, be sure to back up the member when his authority is
called into question
Delegating entails allowing another to complete a task his way, not
necessarily exactly as you would have it done
Even though you may be able to do the task better or faster,
delegating allows for the growth of others
Delegating sometimes involves teaching someone how to complete a task.
How else will your members know how to operate the group when you've
graduated?
Delegating can be a significant motivator in retaining members as it
gives them a sense of accomplishment when a task is successfully completed.
Delegation is most successful when someone expresses an interest in
the task, when he has a specific skill which would suit the task, or when
he would benefit from the responsibility.
Ways to delegate
Ask for volunteers in a meeting. (Show of hands or sign-up sheet)
Appoint someone (in a meeting or after a meeting)
Assign it to a committee (sometimes in a smaller group, people are
less intimidated to volunteer)
Break up jobs into logical parts and spread the work to a few people
Find out your member's interest/skills/time commitment, then find a
task to suit them
Most of all, let go and let them do the work. Follow up to make sure
details are being taken care of, but don't jump back in and take over.
Give feedback to members on their performance.
Guide for Delegation
What to do before you delegate
Tell the person what you expect
Make the work valuable
Make the work "do-able"
V + E = M (Vision + Enthusiasm = Motivation)
What to do to keep the job moving
Give quality feedback
Build upon success
What to do once the job's done
Debrief/learn from the experience
Reward
Reassign
Brainstorming
Definition
A process whereby a group pools their collective thoughts and ideas to
formulate a list of ideas and suggestions about a project, promotion,
problem or program.
The Ground Rules for Brainstorming
In setting up a brainstorming session for your group, here are some
ground rules that should be explained to all participants before you begin.
Remember: Spontaneity and outrageous ideas often yield the best
solutions!
All participants and ideas should hold equal weight
Ideas should be placed on a board or flipchart
A time limit should be set
One specific problem or issue should be dealt with at a time
Quantity (lots of ideas) should be the goal
Everyone should be encouraged to speak often
Piggy-backing (building on one another's ideas) should be encouraged
Quality of ideas should be disregarded
Negative and critical remarks should not be allowed
Narrowing Down the Possibilities
Now that you have tons of ideas, it's important to examine your list
and pick the best solution.
Combine two or more ideas to make a great idea and improve on the
rough thoughts thrown out in the brainstorming session.
Discard ideas which are impractical, impossible, not feasible, or illegal.
Choose the three best ideas by having everyone vote for three ideas
and taking the top three vote getters.
Examine each of your top three ideas. Discuss all their
possibilities, potential and problems. Keep in mind your monetary and
human resources and the time you have to complete the proposed project and
solve the problem.
Pick the strongest one out of your top three, and go with it.
Questions to Ask
What needs to be done differently to achieve this goal?
What steps need to be taken?
What "old" program ideas can we redesign and use again?
Who will be involved in carrying out the new program's components?
What resources can we use to implement our ideas?
Are our ideas something the chapter will do?
Are they within our budget?
Are they too difficult to accomplish?
Are they activities that will help achieve the goal?
What is the key pattern?
Programming
The Basics
Determine the needs, interests, and concerns of the members.
Develop a strategic plan for your organization.
Identify your program committee.
Brainstorm for program ideas and identify the program. (Make sure
that it falls in line with the organization's strategic plan.)
Define the purpose, goals, and objectives of the program.
Identify the program's components and sequence of events.
Determine the budget and funding options.
Logistics
Select a date
check calendars and other resources to avoid conflicts with other events
Here are some additional details to think about when you are planning
your programs. Not all apply to every type of programming.
Before the program
formulate ideas, set goals
get input from group members; appoint a committee
check campus programming resources for possible time conflicts
identify a location
do appropriate paperwork for the University, reserve a campus location
set the date and time
budget the cost of the program, investigate and secure funding for the
event
plan timeline of program details
make arrangements for accommodating the needs of presenter(s) - food,
lodging, etc.
make arrangements for equipment - audio-visual needs, etc.
plan publicity schedule
confirm all plans one-two weeks prior to a major event; one-two days
prior to smaller event
send invitations to appropriate university administrators or advisors,
and National representatives
arrange to have program video taped if appropriate (get presenter's
permission)
prepare programs to hand out (can include information about organization)
make sure contracts are signed and correct
send written confirmation to speakers in advance
utilize your presenters (see if they can do a small group discussion
prior to large group program)
plan reception for program (if appropriate)
prepare introductions and/or comments that you will make
make sure all policies are followed
arrange for committee to arrive early to assist with final details
arrange for payment or thank you gift to be there that day
keep notes of what was done and evaluation of each segment
hold practice sessions if program involves speaking on behalf of students
run detailed plans of program by an advisor
Immediately prior to and during the program
arrive early, set up room, test equipment, finalize details
make certain room is well lighted, well ventilated, and temperature
controlled
greet presenter(s) and special guests
introduce presenter(s)
make participants feel welcome and comfortable
have payment or thank you gift there to be given after program
relax and enjoy the program
After the program
verbally thank the presenter(s) and audience
hand out and collect program evaluations from participants
ask presenter(s) for feedback on presentation
return equipment
pay bills
remove publicity from campus bulletin boards
evaluate the program - use audience, presenter(s), and committee feedback
send thank you note(s) to presenter(s)
thank committee members verbally or with thank you note
consider follow-up programs based on evaluation
write up final notes including suggestions on how to make more successful
congratulate yourself on a job well done
Building a Committee
Encourage committee members to feel sense of ownership.
Share responsibility for the committee's functions with the committee
members.
Develop a sense of trust and caring among committee members.
Allow and encourage diverse points of view.
Resolve conflicts openly and creatively.
Encourage active conversation and listening in meetings.
Be willing to allow the committee to examine itself.
Be willing to experiment.
Accept new members and help them to become part of the group.
Be sure that each member has a role or a task.
Be supportive of each member's efforts.
Encourage members to use each other as resources.
Strive for open and honest communication.
Pay attention to both getting the job done and the people.
Remember a chair's job is not to do everything; his job is to make
sure everything is done.
Be available to committee members.
Keep up-to-date with committee members' progress.
Make decisions by means of group consensus.
Involve committee in all stages of the program, from initial
goal-setting and planning to evaluation.
Be positive.
Show that you have confidence in committee members.
When you're wrong or make a mistake, admit it.
Give praise generously and publicly.
Never criticize a member in public.
Be sensitive to people's feelings.
Keys for Motivation
Goals: Goals for the general chapter as well as for
committees and individuals - give them something to strive for, and hence,
goals can be effective, motivating devices. In general, if we strive for a
particular goal, our performance will be higher than if we are not aware of
any specific end result. Within the Fraternity, the retreat is the logical
place for goal setting. If an individual can view the total goals of the
organization, including some of his own goals, he is more apt to strive for
the total package.
Incentives: To provide effective incentives, you
must know your members and recognize that what is appropriate for one
person may not be appropriate for another. In addition, what may be an
effective incentive at one period of time may not be under other
circumstances. Constant evaluation of incentives is necessary. Incentives
may include honors, awards, recognition, or even appointment to special
committees or high esteem.
Communications: Proper communication is an important
factor in motivation. All members must be aware of the goals of the
organization. Direct communication avenues can be retreats, bulletin
boards, newsletters, group discussions, etc.
Evaluations: An important motivation factor in any
organization is the "feedback" from evaluations. Procedures and progress
must constantly be evaluated both to and from the leadership of the chapter.
Leadership: Leadership means many things, such as
organization, coordination, and management. Leadership itself has a set of
keys.
The ability to arouse self-involvement. We work more
effectively doing a job we want to do and that we feel is ours as opposed
to something someone else wants us to do.
The ability to give freedom and keep control.
Delegation fosters a feeling of confidence and gives an opportunity for
independent and individual expression.
The ability to identify with others. Some chapter
leaders fail to achieve their goals because they are either low in warmth
or inhibited in expressing it. They are too serious to engage in chit-chat
or too busy to give someone a pat on the back. A chapter officer must walk
a tightrope between the best interests of the individual and those of the
chapter. He must be interested in the members of the chapter as
individuals and try to be liked by them, but cannot let this hoped-for
popularity become an end in itself.