James D. Robertson
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Ms Bell - Thank you for your kind words! I regret my tardiness in reply - BUT (always a butt - this time mine in a sling) - a couple of weeks ago I threw down the gauntlet in front of an errant SUV that took offense and promptly and efficiently made an attempt to run over my left leg almost succeeding. I got even by abandoning my attempt to establish a meaningful relationship with the stupid thing and had the paramedics transport me to the hospital where I now reside. And will reside for several more weeks. Given a little more time and I'll come forth with an offering more in keeping with your thoughtful musings! In the meantime have you had a chance look over the book I recommended a while back?
First and foremost: Prepare a PHYSCIAL organizational chart to be posted prominently on EVERY wall of EVERY person in the chain of command. The information contained thereon will be the specific duties of the people holding the position described in the box. No deviations! The chart is to be large, 500 point font if you must! Anywhere, anytime the project at hand is to be discussed - it will be discussed with that chart in sight. Physical copies will be carried to "away" meetings. Make it a rule no business will be conducted unless the chart is present, full size on the wall. This should materially keep the keep the non-profit on course bearing in mind "volunteers is as volunteers does."
This guy either took a page from my book or I took a page from his - since I answer to four score and seven I will invoke my octogenarian-al privilege and claim he took a page from my book - go go go!!!!
Is it too basic to "ask at the door"? We ask virtually every customer how they heard of us!
@ginidietrich @jdrobertson Interesting (co-incidental) you say that! Just last week I was speaking to a group of young people in a civics class and had this , in part, to say:
It is irrelevant to me how ridiculous or specious or insulting citizens may be in their attempt to communicate with their elected officials or their representatives – they are entitled by right of constituency. Conversely, the targeted official does NOT enjoy that right. Nor does he have the right to insult or belittle. His sole sworn obligation is to honestly and without insulting the dignity of the inquisitor answer his concerns or outright solve his problem.
@ginidietrich @jdrobertson I'm sorry it never occurred to me the offending word was/is obscene. I have always felt the reason profanity exists at all is because some people count themselves so superior the only way they can communicate is in language they feel rest of us can understand. Deliver me from that!
Your second point is near and dear to my heart but I think you might be a tad too christen when you say...criticizing without a solution isn't helpful.... My take: criticizing without a solution is just plain bitching and I don't want to hear it
@RebeccaTodd @jdrobertson I'm sure you meant caveat emptor -
@RebeccaTodd @jdrobertson Surely the joy of learning is truly a wondrous thing! Your line ... based on more information.... has already been plagiarized in my computer for use in my next paper. Yesterday, I thought I'd show off for a group of kids who were playing with a yo-yo. I ended up spending the next hour with them teaching me a couple of tricks I'd never seen before. I can fly a kite too. Better than those smart-aleck yo-yo sharks. So there!
@RebeccaTodd @jdrobertson Hah!!!! You are absolutely right in your observation once again offering proof-positive that blondes are getting a bad rap! However, may I point out: Those of us of the octogenarian persuasion (four score and seven) are protected by divine rite from ever being wrong about anything. We are protected from contradiction by church, clergy and congregation. And above all you young whippersnappers. Aside from that Ms. Lincoln, how did you enjoy the play?
... the triumph of intellect and romance... Hah! Age and treachery will always overcome youth and skill!!
@belllindsay @jdrobertson Ms. Lindsay - seeing your interest in leadership - may I recommend a book? You will truly enjoy - if you haven't already read it - Up the Organization, by Robert Townsend,1970. It is short and a fun read but hard hitting. It is the type of thing you'd keep on your desk.
@TaraGeissinger Something to remember! You can supervise an employee only insomuch as he will allow it.
@belllindsay @jdrobertson Thank you for your endorsement. When you ask...if the work world... Preparing people for eventual leadership... My question to you would be, WHY doesn't the work world prepare their people for leadership? I have been asked on occasion to present a leadership course to several churches and fraternal organizations where the attendees come on their own time. We usually pack the hall - it's surprising how many people attend. The shipyard where I worked had an education department where the employees could attend these courses at night. One guy in apparent exasperation suggested to me, "You sound just like my wife!" That gave me a great idea - I invited all the wives to attend the class with a promise of a certificate of completion signed by the plant manager.. It took a couple of sessions but we most of the wives showed up. Interestingly, these ladies knew a lot about the shipyard and had suggestions for improvement that were picked up by management and later implemented.
LEADERSHIP: How easily the word rolls off the lips!
The Albuquerque Public Schools (APS) District encompasses 163 schools, 90,000 students, 20,000 employees and a budget of 1.3 billion dollars. We have had and continue to have a succession of less than satisfactory superintendents.The reason for this is simple: The board of Education who is responsible for the selection hasn’t got a clue when it comes to defining leadership.They think they do – but they don’t. They inevitably end up hiring some silver tongued devil with a great personality. Wouldn’t you think a group of people who are about to confer a mantel of great responsibility and a quarter million dollar salary should have at least a rudimentary knowledge of what it is they are looking for?
Leadership is learned – there are a very few “born” leaders! Even though the APS board of education advertises for and talks about wanting an outstanding leader – they (board) separately or together don’t have the slightest idea what they’re talking about. Worse! They continue to defend their choice and only make noises about getting rid of him/her around election time. By that time, however, we vote them out and replace them with another bunch of losers who will scream to the high heavens, “this time we will find a “real” leader,” not, of course, knowing what a leader is!
Leadership is so important to the military formal classes in the subject begin in basic training. The higher the rank the more intricate the courses become. A prerequisite to certain superior rankings requires formal extended leadership training in an academic environment.
Bearing in mind: A leader is not paid for what he does rather for what he can get others to do.
a.He must know himself.
b.He must know his people.
c.He must know his job.
To assist him in this endeavor he must, at the absolute minimum, have a solid background in such subjects as: (alphabetical order)
·Communications – both oral and aural.
·Creative Problem Solving
·Decision Making
·Delegation
·Leadership
·Listening
·Motivation
·Perception
·Resistance to Change
·Self Development
·Understanding Human Behavior
Leadership is the life blood of any company yet how many companies do you know actually ask prospective employees about their leadership experience or for that matter offer on-going in- house instruction in leadership?
@michaelsantoro @jdrobertson Believe it or not I use to teach a class on " How to Lie With Statistics.? When I see a bunch of charts and graphs or a powerpoint machine primed and ready to go - I get very nervous. (If you are not already familiar with it - I most sincerely recommend to you the book, How to Lie with Statistics by Darrel Huff. It is a fun read along with it's enlightening message). As for me - take me on the tour - let me speak with the principals. I hasten to add this is what I'd want - I offer no criticism of your approach.
Don't drown me in charts and graphs - I want to see boots on the ground! Take me out on the field and show me!
I have often wondered - do people I don't know or barely know feel they have to use profanity when speaking with me because they think it's the only thing I understand - that, in fact, it's all I'm capable of grasping! They certainly don't do much for my quality of life!!!!!
@belllindsay @jdrobertson I think I'd like to add - much time and effort can be spared if the problem at hand is well DEFINED before the session starts. We must all be on the same page.
When I was in the submarine business (boats not sandwiches) we brainstormed all the time. I am convinced a strong, well versed moderator is a, if not the, key to successful brainstorming. And I always thought there ought to be a time limit. Very little productive thought comes out during the last hour of a long session.