So You're the New President. Now What?

Updated: May. 19, 2015  

Will you leave your chapter better than when you found it?

It sounds like an obvious answer - but, in reality organizations, have what we call 'momentum' -- it is often much harder to change direction or improve a situation on something that is already in motion, than it is to create it. I use the 'ocean carrier' metaphor because it demonstrates the energy, veloctity and power of an ogranization that is on the move.

Imagine an ocean carrier heading across the ocean to deliver its cargo. Early on in the journey the ship goes off course. Carriers are large, heavey and they don't turn on a dime. When the choice is made to adjust or correct course, it is not instantaneous. The captain communicates the need to adjust, the crew responds in order to change direction, and proceeds to make a turn that can take miles to complete and a good bit of time.

Organizations are the same way. Everyone might agree there to a change but there might be years of doing things a certain way that people are accustomed to. Changing it might be risky or make people uncomfortable. This resistance is the equivalent of the momentum in the ocean carrier. Everyone has to agree and building consensus can be challenging. You might come in as president with ideas for putting the chapter on the right track, but be met with resistance. Before you know it, your term is nearing its end and not much, if anything, has changed.

The truth is, people only really change when they have to. When they are faced with making a choice between two things, they will choose the less painful alternative or conversely the one which bears the most satisfaction. Your board will have to see that continuing on the same course will lead to a less fulfilling and meaningful outcome for its members and that changing course now will correct this and lead to growth and overall success for the chapter.

Another important item to know is exactly what you would like to change for the chapter. Some common suggestions are:

• Improve meeting attendance
• Increase meeting revenue
• Increase membership renewals and add new members
• Put in a better succession plan for board members
• Create a new set of procedures for each board position
• Redesign the website and use new technology to make the chapter run better overall

Each one of these ideas would be great things to improve in any organization or association. The key will be to find a way to accomplish these changes that will be an easy, pleasurable and/or problem solving choice for your board members to choose.

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