Who's In Charge?

For my association friends (who I assume are members of ASAE & The Center), the November issue of Associations Now should be hitting your mailbox soon, and I've got an article in there titled "Who's In Charge?"

I wrote it based on a series of projects I had been working on that all seemed to center around this question. It's one of those questions that we pretend we have resolved when, in fact, we haven't. It's usually clear on the org chart or at a high level, but operationally we spin our wheels because of the variety of stories we tell about who REALLY is in charge. I think it's less about "truth" and more about "stories."

You can read the article here. I welcome feedback.

Also, this is a primer for the session I am doing next month at the Great Ideas conference on this topic. My session is at 2:15 on Sunday, December 9th (the last day--so careful when you book you flight!).

Comments

[Virgil Carter]

Jamie, I gave you a post over on the ASAE web site, but wanted to post here as well that you article is absolutely excellent. It's informative, positive and as applicable for volunteer as it is for staff. Most of all, it doesn't paint anyone (volunteers or staff) as "bad folks". It just clearly and accurately points out some of the issues that need to be understood and addressed for successful associations.

A most excellent job. I emailed it to our board of governors and staff executive management committee. I got an almost immediate response from a governor and EMC member saying that they will be reading on the plane to our big Fall meetin in Seattle starting Friday.

That means (as we all know) that they won't be reading the meeting agenda. Thanks a lot, pal!

[Kerry C. Stackpole, CAE]

Your article is a strong and insightful contribution to helping people understand and potentially leap the chasm that often exists between volunteer leaders and professional staff. Your thoughtful illumination of the oft-times hidden relationships and emotions that permeate the not-for-profit world were especially poignant. There is still much work to be done on the power dynamic between boards and staff and your article strikes me as a wonderful launch point.

[Jamie Notter]

Wow! I'm speechless (which for a blogger, is a big deal!). Thanks for the kind words, guys. Sorry to mess with your folks' in-flight reading, Virgil :-), although are you sure my article can compete with the movie?