Yesterday I Let Go of Control
Posted on June 25th, 2009 by Cynthia D'Amour
Today I am still alive.
Yesterday I shared with the world I goofed.
- Okay, perhaps a tad melodramatic.
- But I did tell thousands.
- And put story on the Chapter Leaders Playground.
This fall I plan to do a 10-week, 30-city speaking tour.
- The Lazy Leader Transforms America - One Volunteer at a Time!
- Training 5,000 volunteer leaders.
- Impacting more than 250,000 volunteers.
To make goals, need 100+ participants attending each event.
- Came up with cool idea.
- Would increase odds of success.
- Require 3-4 local chapters to work together as local host teams.
I thought it was brilliant.
- Leaders get to know each other.
- A bigger pool of people to help attract others to events.
- Collaboration is hot!
And local leaders did not buy it.
- Several chapters want to host stops on tour.
- But did not want/have time to work with others.
- They felt they could fill the room - sans extra work.
It was decision time.
- Do I enforce my original rules?
- (With side benefits galore.)
- Or do I let go of control and listen to what my volunteers wanted?
I let go.
- And confessed.
- It felt weird.
- And got strong feedback from leaders about how I was a role model for them to reevaluate how they were working in their chapters.
By being “weak” I encouraged others to be strong - go figure.
Makes me think of chapter leaders…are you willing to let go of being right for the good of your chapter?
Filed under: Board challenges
