Empowering Others:The Key to a Sustainable

Organization

Kim BlankAssistant Director

of Student Activities

INTRODUCTIONS

Name

Leadership posit ion(s) you hold

Organization(s) you represent

Why are you here today?

STRONG ORGANIZATIONS

What does a successful student organization look l ike?

How does an organization become successful?

How does your organization build people?

What legacy does your organization leave for future members?

GROWING ORGANIZATIONS

ORGANIZATIONAL ASSESSMENTNEW BEGINNINGS

Mission or purpose of your organizationStrengths of your organization.Areas of development (weaknesses)

Why did you join and why did you stay?Do you see future leaders emerging in your

organization?In what ways have you been rewarded,

recognized or valued by the organization and/or its members?

Where is this organization going in the future?

EVALUATING THE ORGANIZATIONAL ASSESSMENT Which questions were easy to answer?

Which questions made you stop and think about how to answer them?

What does this tel l you about the organization overal l?

COMMON FACTORS AMONG SUCCESSFUL ORGANIZATIONSAdministrative Duties: on time, correct forms, exceed performance standards

Advisors: advisor(s) and off icers work as a team; advisor(s) aware of organization’s activ it ies

Programming: a variety of educational programs are provided to develop members

Committees : team approach to organization responsibil it ies

Activit ies : focus activ it ies that support the mission and development of the “team”

Leaders : members are leaders on campus

Networks : members and off icers interact with other organizations for support and idea exchange

Community : organization is involved in community service

Education : opportunit ies for education and membership development are regularly offered

Recruitment : market your organization’s benefits through its programs, not i ts social activ it ies

Marketing : posit ive publ ic relations

MEMBERS NEED…CULTIVATING AND HARVESTINGA sense of belongingA sense of sharing in planning the organization’s

objectivesTo feel that goals and objectives are reasonable

and achievableTo feel that what they are doing has real purposeTo share in making the ground rulesTo know what is expected of themTo have responsibil it ies that challengeTo see that progress is being made toward goalsTo be kept informedTo have confidence in the organization’s leadership

MATTERING & MARGINALITY

MatteringOthers are interested in what happens to you, empathize with you, and/or appreciates you.

MarginalityNot belonging to the group: characterized by feeling unnoticed, ignored, unrecognized, and disconnected from others.

- Scholssberg

BECOME A BUILDER OF PEOPLE

Encourage individual growthReward work well doneMediate disputes address issues quickly &

fair lyCommunicate clearly & l isten activelyAccepting input and ideas from everyoneUse guidelines rather than regulationsTrain and coach for excellenceSettle differences rather than stif le

oppositionLead by example and foster mutual respectAvoid leading by intimidation and

punishment

BECOME A BUILDER OF PEOPLE: AVOID…

Blaming

Passing the buck

Tantrums

Chewing people out in public

Unreasonable demands

Encroaching on personal t ime when not absolutely necessary

Asking others to do a job you wouldn’t be wil l ing to do yourself

YOUR ORGANIZATION’S LEGACYREFLECTING

What goals did the organization accomplish?

Which goals and priorit ies wil l the organization have for the following year?

Whose talents/skil ls/abil i t ies match the needs of the organization?

Is the organization’s transit ion of leadership effective?

Who wil l the organization recruit this coming year?

REFERENCES

Astin, A. W. (1984). Student involvement: A developmental theory for higher education. Journal of College Student Personnel, 25, 297-308.

Chickering, A. W., & Schlossberg, N. K. (1995). How to get the most out of college. Boston: Allyn & Bacon.

Dunkel, N.W., & Shuh, J.H. (1998). Advising student groups and organizations. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.

Schlossberg, N. K. (1989). Marginality and mattering: Key issues in building community. In D.R. Roberts (Ed.), Designing campus activit ies to foster a sense of community (New Directions for Student Services, No. 48, pp. 5-15). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.