My first NSNA meeting was this last one. (not THE last one) haha.
I sat and observed.
I saw a lot of good things.
I observed over 60 people that cared enough to devote their time to the neighborhood == Good.
There were people that cared enough to devote their time to committees == Good.
There were people that listened == Good.
Some people had ideas and motions == Good.
I saw excitement and emotion == Good & Not-so-Good.
I also saw some hostility == Not Good.
Not unusual...just not good.
From my experience, hostility in a group or organization comes from lack of organization, improper leadership, or a failure to take action when action is needed.
Suggestions:
Organize =>
1) Have a person(s)assigned at each meeting to take minutes or record the meeting (preferably both).
2) Have a person(s) assigned to know the Rules of Order and of the Organization.
3) Follow the rules.
Leadership =>
1) Always respect people...all people. Disliking a plan, motion, or policy is OK. Taking it to the personal level is always NOT OK.
2) Focus on getting things done.
''Managers do things right, Leaders do the right things.'' You can chase your tail doing things by the book. Getting a job done means only taking the steps that will lead to the accomplishment.
3) Elect a person to preside over the meetings that will do 1) and 2).
Action =>
1) Find and focus on solutions.... not complaints.
2) Spend more time on work than on holding meetings.
3) Have some fun. People do their best work when they are having fun.
Having 60+ people that care is a great starting place.
We all need to take a deep breath, step back, and evaluate whether our individual actions are for positive solutions. If not, then we need to discard them and move on...and....
...get to the working fun part !
There was a person sitting next to me at this last meeting. It was his first, also.
I hope that he returns in October.
I'll be there.
Wsmith
I sat and observed.
I saw a lot of good things.
I observed over 60 people that cared enough to devote their time to the neighborhood == Good.
There were people that cared enough to devote their time to committees == Good.
There were people that listened == Good.
Some people had ideas and motions == Good.
I saw excitement and emotion == Good & Not-so-Good.
I also saw some hostility == Not Good.
Not unusual...just not good.
From my experience, hostility in a group or organization comes from lack of organization, improper leadership, or a failure to take action when action is needed.
Suggestions:
Organize =>
1) Have a person(s)assigned at each meeting to take minutes or record the meeting (preferably both).
2) Have a person(s) assigned to know the Rules of Order and of the Organization.
3) Follow the rules.
Leadership =>
1) Always respect people...all people. Disliking a plan, motion, or policy is OK. Taking it to the personal level is always NOT OK.
2) Focus on getting things done.
''Managers do things right, Leaders do the right things.'' You can chase your tail doing things by the book. Getting a job done means only taking the steps that will lead to the accomplishment.
3) Elect a person to preside over the meetings that will do 1) and 2).
Action =>
1) Find and focus on solutions.... not complaints.
2) Spend more time on work than on holding meetings.
3) Have some fun. People do their best work when they are having fun.
Having 60+ people that care is a great starting place.
We all need to take a deep breath, step back, and evaluate whether our individual actions are for positive solutions. If not, then we need to discard them and move on...and....
...get to the working fun part !
There was a person sitting next to me at this last meeting. It was his first, also.
I hope that he returns in October.
I'll be there.
Wsmith
