The Leadership Challenge - Model the Way

Leading a volunteer organization is truly leading. Think about it – you don’t have paychecks, benefits, or mortgages to hold over the heads of your members. Volunteers participate because they are following their hearts. As a leader, your heart needs to be out front as you model the way.

Modeling the way is all about leading by example. It’s about “walking the talk”, or as author Robert Thompson would say, “Connect your hips to your lips.” Walking what talk? The values of Soroptimist International. Our core values are:

• the belief that all women deserve to lead full and productive lives;
• women helping women; and
• international diversity and fellowship.

It’s easy to think of the many leaders who have gone before us in Soroptimist – all modeling the way for us to make a difference for women and girls. These women lead with integrity and lead with their hearts.

Model the way- with your integrity right out front, because your credibility matters.

The Leadership Challenge - Soroptimist Style

While Soroptimist International does not explicitly refer to itself as a leadership development organization, many of us who are members have proven to be leaders and have learned leadership from being a part of Soroptimist.

Author Robert Thompson once said, “Leadership is a choice about creating open, honest and authentic relationships that urge others to want to discover their power and focus on what matters to them and their community.” All of us have been called to leadership at some point in our lives. Those of us who own businesses are called upon to lead every day. Those of us who work for corporate America often know first-hand that not all leaders have titles or direct reports.

In this and the next five blog posts I’ll be sharing thoughts from The Leadership Challenge, by Jim Kouzes and Barry Posner. Kouzes and Posner documented the five practices of leadership:
• Model the Way
• Inspire a Shared Vision
• Challenge the Process
• Enable Others to Act
• Encourage the Heart

Sometimes when we’re looking for leadership, the first place we should look is in the mirror. As you review this series of blogs, please reflect on your own personal leadership skills and how you might share those skills you have and pick up a few skills through leadership in Soroptimist.

Half the Way There

It’s New Year’s Day, and today marks the halfway point of my term as President. As I reflect on how the first half of our club year has gone, a few thoughts come to mind.
1. We are having fun. Yes, we are working hard, and yes, we are making a huge difference to the women and girls we serve, but we are having fun doing so.
2. We really care about one another. I hear many of us tell how they were sick and a Soroptimist brought them soup, or they needed a lift and a Soroptimist called just in time. We’re bringing meals to members; we’re sending care packages to Jewel in Iraq; we’re offering rides, we’re making hospital visits.
3. We really support one another, and we really support our leadership. Every time I even think about falling, a member is there to catch me. As I ventured into uncharted territory, the members have my back. If a Board member can’t make it to an event, another member covers her. And the list goes on…
As we start our new calendar year and the second half of our club year, I am grateful for the caring, the generosity, and the work ethic of our members. Together we will make great things happen in 2011. Happy New Year!