Proven Leadership

Proven leadership??!! How often have we heard this term over the past several weeks? Obviously it must be that time again... municipal election time in Alberta. Only a week to go to elect a "proven leader". How do we interpret that phrase? Perhaps that individual sold the most chocolate bars during the fund raising blitz in school or sold the most Christmas wrap. It's interesting that the term is used without any tangible examples; only statements were they have served on many boards, but in what capacity? Turned around businesses, what does that mean.?

Peter Drucker stated "Leadership is not magnetic personality — that can just as well be a glib tongue. It is not "making friends and influencing people" - that is flattery. Leadership is lifting a person's vision to high sights, the raising of a person's performance to a higher standard, the building of a personality beyond its normal limitations."

As we have been learned over the years good leadership is based on four factors: supportiveness, interaction with others, work ethic and goal emphasis. A good leader will use these four factors to create a healthy organizational climate that has successful communication patterns, activities based on goal setting, involvement in decision-making and opportunities for influence. In thinking about these factors and personal experiences how many true leaders have you met or worked for?

An organization can occasionally maintain themselves with good managers, but if you want to change direction, capable leadership will be needed.
Leaders are not concerned with “doing things right” but with “doing the right thing”.

Leadership Competencies
The best leaders have the following competencies:
Vision: Leaders can create and communicate a desired future and get others to commit themselves to it.
Communication: Leaders can communicate their vision and get support from others.
Persistence/ focus: Leaders can maintain their organization’s effectiveness when the going gets tough.
Empowerment: Leaders can create a dynamic working environment in which they can harness people’s energies to bring about desired results.
Organizational learning: Leaders can find ways for their organization to monitor its own performance and think about ways to improve.
Nothing serves an organization better than leadership that knows what it wants, knows when and how to stay on course and when to change.

Ten Commandments of Leadership
1. Treat everyone with respect and dignity.
2. Set the example for others to follow.
3. Be an active coach.
4. Maintain the highest standards of honesty and integrity.
5. Insist on excellence and hold your people accountable.
6. Build group cohesiveness and pride.
7. Show confidence in your people.
8. Maintain a strong sense of urgency.
9. Be available and visible to your staff.
10. Develop yourself to your highest potential.

So at the end of the day are these individuals who are seeking your vote talking about actual leadership or management? They all have visions but these visions can only be realized if supported by others. Around a Council table you can have the greatest ideas out there but you still need the majority of those around the table to support it.

Volunteer Burnout or is Volunteer Bashout?

In the volunteer world we often contribute volunteers leaving a program to something we call volunteer burnout. But is it always the case that they have reached the burnout stage or have they reached another stage I refer to as volunteer bash out? Perhaps burnout is the politically correct terminology. Personally I have used the term volunteer bash out dating back to the late 70’s.

Over the years, in my personal career I have at the privilege of working with close to 600 different not for profit organizations across all sectors from health, social, education, sport, recreation etc. What I have interesting is that there appears to be a greater incidence of volunteer bash out in sport and recreation organizations than in others I have either been involved with or worked with.

In working with organizations in the area of board development I have used a model called “Cog’s Ladder: A Model of Group Growth”. I first came across it in 1976 and have used it ever since. In Cog’s model an organization will goes through

Polite Stage - An introductory phase, where members strive to get acquainted or reacquainted with one another.
Why We're Here Stage - Group members will want to know why they have been called together. Often, social cliques will begin to form as members begin to feel as though they "fit in."
Power Stage - Bids for power begin between group members in an effort to convince each other that their position on an issue is correct.
Cooperation Stage - Members not only begin to accept that others have an opinion worth expressing, but a team spirit replaces vested interests.
Esprit Stage - It is also noted that this stage will not always be achieved; however, for this level of cooperation, as well as productivity, the other four stages must be met.
The Power Stage or bid for power seems to be prevalent in sport and recreation organizations and in my opinion is the focal point for bash out. It is at this stage where any values an organization may have are put aside and personal agendas become prevalent.
Bash out is a result of the constant fighting, running into obstacles created by others, lack of recognition, other people always believing they can do a better job and on and on and on.
This bash out in sport and recreation occurs not only within the board of directors but all volunteers from event planners, coaches, and officials(yes they get paid, but not for abuse). These individuals leave the program and no one really asks why or if they do get an answer attribute it to someone just complaining.
Think about your own experiences and why you may have moved on.
As a board member was it due to someone saying they could do a better job? Is there a belief that you actually got paid? Did you get tired of the constant infighting?
As a coach did you leave because you got tired of people sitting behind you with a stop watch timing their child’s ice or field time, innings played in or people believing you are obviously doing it for personal gain?
None of these examples as anything to do with volunteer burnout, this is pure and simple bash out.
What is interesting is that there are various organizations that provide volunteer training and stress the importance of retaining and recognizing your volunteers. Yes many organizations participate in these programs but at the end of the day how many continue to practice they learn. Even organizations that practice volunteer bash out still recognize their volunteers although they change on a regular basis.
Personally I have at the opportunity to be involved with organizations that reached the Esprit Stage—Early years of Ringette Alberta, County of Stettler Regional Recreation Board, Edmonton International Baseball Foundation and Alberta Bobsleigh Association. It’s amazing how much can get done at this level.

To paraphrase Smoky the Bear: “Only You Can Prevent Volunteer Bash Out”.

Building Community Capacity

From April 30 - May 1, 2010 the Indigenous Sport Council (Alberta) hosted their Sport and Recreation Conference. The following is the Opening Key Note Address, presented by Grand Chief Charles Weaselhead. Treaty Seven

Empowering our Indigenous Youth

In building community capacity we must foster positive youth development. Through participation in school programs. Indigenous Sport Council Programs and the North American Indigenous Games we have seen how sports teaches positive values & life skills
Our Indigenous youth learn & develop through play. Sports also will assist in keeping active & healthy lifestyles. Keeping active also helps in reducing health risk behaviours
We must ensure that sport is built on Fairness, Fun, Excellence and Inclusion.

Recognizing Sport as a Valuable Community Asset

We must “champion” fairness and ethical conduct. There is a need to create safe and positive communication and promote inclusion.
Through sport we can foster strong and active lifestyles within our communities. It is also important that we recognize out community volunteers and celebrate the contributions they make.
Sport helps to strengthen collaborations and connections to the community.

Giving Your Personal Best

We must enable our people to develop the confidence and skills to be involved in athletics. Youth through participation in sport need to:
Join In - commit
Show it - Be a leader
Live it - Lead by Example
Grow it - Encourage others

In our communities we have many athletes who have excelled and now are seen as role models such as Destiny Whitney, Golf. Tsuu T’ina Nation, Charlton Weaselhead, Basketball, Blood Tribe and Wacey Rabbit, hockey Blood Tribe.

Sport and Education

Sport is a good tool in re-engaging children/youth in school and to assist in realizing their potential. Through sports our children/youth build confidence, self-esteem and helps them form positive relationships with school staff and peers.
Sports is closely linked with improved school attendance. Most youth that are involved in organized sports through school are less likely to become involved in high-risk activities.

In conclusion, Building Community Capacity can be achieved through
Participation - Supporting people to take part in community sports and athletics.
Empowerment - Increasing ability and capacity.
Inclusion - Collaborations with members, partners and leadership.
Self determination - Supporting people to make their own choices and encouraging them by providing opportunities.

Maskwachees Declaration

In February 2000 the delegates representing Federal/ Provincial Governments, educators, First Nation communities participated in a National Recreation Roundtable on Aboriginal/ Indigenous Peoples. This Roundtable was held in Hobbema, Alberta, (Maskwachees). The representatives stated they were deeply committed to improving the health, wellness, cultural survival and quality of life of Aboriginal/Indigenous Peoples, through physical activity, physical education, sport and recreation.

At the conclusion of the Roundtable the following declaration was made "We Declare that:Sustainable commitment and investment in active living, physical activity, physical education, recreation and sport are essential to promote health and address social issues facing Aboriginal/Indigenous Peoples in communities across Canada.
And therefore, we call on all governments, non-governmental organizations, communities and individuals to endorse this Declaration."

The Roundtable also identified the following as strengths:

We are supported by these strengths:

• A willingness to respect partners and to work together with a readiness to learn and lend;

• A commitment by the Federal/Provincial/Territorial governments to reduce inactivity among Canadians by 10% by 2003;

• A growing number of effective programs, policies and practices;

• Infrastructure development in the sport and recreation sector;

• A physically active Aboriginal/Indigenous traditional lifestyle; and

• International documents/statements that recognize the importance of physical activity, physical education, sport and recreation.

The challenges that were identified include:

• The fact that Aboriginal youth are the fastest growing segment of the Canadian population;

• The need to support, invite, integrate and use the knowledge of Elders in program design and delivery;

• The lack of priority in allocation of adequate financial and human resources for recreation and sport;

• The complexity of the infrastructure independent rather than interdependent;

• The need to enhance communication and accountability between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal sport and recreation organizations and governments;

• The need for quality community based programs and services and the creation and renewal of sport and recreation facilities;

• A learned attitude of helplessness and "who cares?" held by many;

• The lack of clear initiatives for capacity building at the community level;

• The need for more leaders and positive role models;
• The need to recognize success and celebrate participation;

• The need to ensure quality physical education in schools;

• The need to ensure recreation and sport are positive experiences; and

• The need to create, pursue and implement system-wide change that will result in more flexible, creative, and responsive policies and practices.

So what has changed since the Declaration in 2000? Very little in the communities, other than an increase in obesity, diabetes, youth suicides etc.

The Indigenous Sport Council (Alberta) through financial support from the Rural Alberta Development Fund and Alberta-Canada Aboriginal Bilateral has slowly made in roads in some communities through the delivery of programs such as Run, Jump, Throw and the Aboriginal Recreation and Sport Resource Manual. But it is a slow process.

Building partnerships is often a challenge. Organizations such as Alberta Recreation and Parks Association and Alberta Association of Recreation Facility Personnel have stepped forward to work with the ISCA to address common concerns.

It appears that with many other agreements, declarations, MOU'S etc the words on the declaration were just that words with minimal commitment.