De-Construct process
In any organization there are always the social / political structures, being the nature of ourselves as human beings, which conceal / exhibit very individual personalities and experiences. In a process I title De-construction; the goal is to put any and all preconceptions forward. These are neither negative nor positive and can in fact be both. The ideas and passion that any one 'person' brings to the group should be gently considered and not over-analyzed. It is very important however to get a real sense of your 'players'. What do they consider their role to be in your group? How do they feel about past experiences? Where do they think the vision is for the future? Is the 'Brand' secure, positively evolving or in danger? Do you have the infrastructure and support to grow your membership? Do you want to grow your membership? (Doing nothing IS an option!) You can manifest your own terms, but asking the questions first will either change your agenda, or confirm that everyone is right where they should be. This intimate process builds relationships and is a positive team building exercise. These are rhetorical or 'open-ended' questions and everyone should answer them in their own words expressing their true opinions. This process, I believe, then creates an environment of trust. You now have a powerful tool: information. The end game is building on the foundation of success in your organization and to identify and establish goals for the future. You will be more effective if you take the time to first consider the past and respect the experiences of your team.
