Yesterday I led an officer transition coaching session with the new council officers at Nebraska Wesleyan University. One of the new leaders asked how to get information from their predecessor, especially when a former officer is elusive and hard to pin down. This may come up for many new leaders, so here are the four things I shared with them:
What is your impact?
20 Fraternity/Sorority Experts to Follow
28 People You Should Meet
If you're a chapter or council officer, you need to be ready for anything that comes your way. That means starting out by establishing a connection to all the people with whom you might work during your term. At the very least, get these people into your phone, your emai, your contact list, and your planner:
19 Steps Most Officers Skip
School is back in session, and it's time to get started! But how can you be sure to end your term on a high note?
There are a few basic steps that new fraternity and sorority officers often overlook when returning for Part 2 of their term. Don't let the simple things spoil your legacy - find out how to hit every goal you have for the semester!
Making Mistakes
Be the Decider.
What will you do without them?
It’s that time of year again; spring has turned to summer, radio stations are playing Semisonic’s ‘Closing Time’ on repeat, and millions of students have graduated. We have high hopes for the Class of 2011 as they make their way into the world, but I can’t help but wonder…what will we do without them? The members of the Class of 2011 were our role models and leaders on campus. They knew the community, remembered the organization’s history and maintained a connection to alumni that other members could not. They served as our bridge between the new and old. They stepped in to take over when the Class of 2010 departed, but now they too leave a void.
Showing Up
I met Karen in first grade, and she quickly became my best friend. I remember being so excited every time we got the chance to play together, and I remember how much I hated it when one of us had to go home. I wanted Karen to be a part of everything I did: swimming, dancing, playing tag and hide-and-go-seek. At times when we weren’t allowed to play together, it though the world was about to end. It seemed as if I would we never be able to play Barbies again! When I went off to college and joined a sorority, I felt the same way about my new sisters. New member education was new, exciting, and always fun! I attended every single activity and wanted to be on every possible committee. I signed up for everything, and if I was unable to attend, it felt as if my world had ended. Just like my friendship with Karen, I was thrilled about becoming involved with a group of sisters that would be a major part of my life forever.
What's Your Squirrel?
I have a dog named Snickers. She’s a 50-pound labradoodle that we adopted 4 years ago. She’s the first dog that I can remember owning. My parents had a Siberian Husky – a wrecking ball of fuzz – when I was a young child. I never really knew him, but I do remember that he ingested half of our bathroom door. I’m not sure why my parents expected more out of a dog they named “Goober.” Snickers is a lovely dog. She has her quirks and bad habits. She likes to express her jubilance at meeting new people by either (a) jumping up on them or (b) peeing on the floor. She also likes to chew up plastic hangers. A couple each day – or about a pack a week.