How to choose a politician Every four years, I – like many other people – face the same issue: a ballot filled with unknown or uninspiring names of candidates for elections. It doesn’t matter whether it’s the local dog catcher or the president of the nation, being able to vote is a sacred rite and […]
Leadership is all about managing egos. The egos of the fellow board members or staff. But sometimes the hardest ego to manage is your own. We take criticism to heart and we may constantly suffer from a low-grade “imposter syndrome”. Who am I to be in this position? Those kinds of thoughts can sap your […]
Keep all eyes on the road ahead Running a meeting is like operating a piece of machinery with as many moving parts as there are people in the room. If participants in the meeting are distracted, they may not hear all the information they need to make the best decisions for the organization. As the […]
Heavy weighs the crown. Few people understand the weight and responsibility involved with being in charge of a group or an organization. Moreover, it is quite lonely at the top because few people have the perspective of being the one who is in charge of everything. It can be quite a daunting and slightly disorienting […]
“Decorum” has the same root as the word “decoration”: the frills and fixtures that make a room a pleasant place to be. In a meeting, decorum is what keeps the discussion polite and respectful. It includes not only what is said but also the way things are said. The order, the subject and the tone […]
You know they are out there. They are like snipers sitting around the table. Ready to open fire with no warning. The moment they think that any rule might possibly have been broken. The price of their vigilance is intimidation. A nitpicker in the group can effectively shut down debate, as people prefer to say […]
“The fights are always vicious when the stakes are really low.” But the big issues fester silently… It is easy to debate the small stuff. Where there is no real money on the line, and no one has anything to lose. This kind of problem plagues nonprofits and other creative organizations. But it is tougher […]
Lights, Camera, Drama! When the Drama Queen starts to speak, it’s a mixture of fear and fascination. It’s a performance. And you are a captive audience. They have you exactly where they want. These people wear their heart on their sleeve, which they use to wipe aware the tears that flow every time they open […]
Problem: These folks have heard it all before. Or maybe not. Either way, they are not interested in listening, much less supporting whatever is being discussed. Cynics radiate negativity that can infect other meeting members and stifle discussion. Nothing is worth it. Nothing will work out. Nothing is ever good enough. That’s because they don’t […]
There’s a popular saying, “Never assume that Loud is strong and Quiet is weak.” Quiet people eschew the spotlight and are often able to view an issue without their ego blocking their view. But it can take extra effort to get the quiet people to come forward and express themselves. Humans by nature prefer consensus, […]