Thursday, March 5, 2009

Kansas Iota

After the Midwest Regional Conference was over I spent a couple days helping out the Kansas Iota chapter. Something that I continued to be impressed by with men versus women is that men are much more accepting of help. When working for a women's group - if I would have asked an award winning chapter if they wanted assistance they would have laughed and sent me on my way. Yet EVERY Phi Kap chapter so far has been accepting and appreciative of help. As small as that seems - it's encouraging and motivating.

I had some really great conversations with this chapter and its leadership. They have some amazing men in that chapter and I see great success on the horizon for them. I believe that much of what they are going through all chapters go through to some extent. Everybody has issues with involvement and commitment. Most chapters are segregated - sometimes 70 of guys doing 100% of the work and the rest are "dead weight." Sadly, at times the number is 50/50. I really enjoy challenging the process and people to think outside the box. Here's what I think - give the best care to your best customers. That's how businesses are successful. Imagine a chapter to be like an upscale restaurant or club. The regular patrons who are there the most and who spend the most money get treated better. They get better tables, VIP access, and overall more time and effort is spent keeping those customers happy. The customers who come on occasion or one-time customers are the ones that the normal amount of effort is used for. Courtesy, respect, friendliness - just as you would expect. The customers who cause issues like damage or liability are tossed out without question because the business risks it's reputation by keeping lousy customers. OUR ORGANIZATIONS SHOULD BE RUN WITH THIS CONCEPT IN MIND! It's the same thing! We're providing an experience to our members. It baffles me that chapters allow the complacent members to hold them back. I'm not saying kick them all out but you also shouldn't cater to them when they are not the best members. Simple, real life example.

With that said - I challenge all of you to not allow you complacent or uncommitted members to hold you back. Keep moving forward and if they hang on then great. If they fall off just know that you will pick up better guys along the way that can keep up.
Thank you so much to Kansas Iota for being so gracious, friendly, and open with me. I think it was a mutually beneficial experience and I look forward to the next time I see them again.

1 comment:

  1. Complacency does undermine efficacy! So much potential in chapters out there and if everyone who did something simply asked those who did nothing to help in some small way, then we'd have amazingly high performing chapters.

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