Chicago is finally lurching drunkenly into spring. I hope. This evening I went on a great bike ride with the Oak Park Cycle Club. Only a few days ago I walked Leo in my winter coat, but tonight I was in shirtsleeves. And I admit, our walks have shown me more and more signs of the year turning – more green, plants coming up, even a few flowers in bloom, finally, this week.
This weird year not withstanding, I was generally enthusiastically into spring by this time during the years I lived in Maryland. I’ve always said spring would be the one time I really missed the mid-Atlantic. By the end of the 1st week of March there were almost always some blooms out – crocus, forsythia, redbud. My daily walks became treasure hunts. It was wonderful.
But then I abandoned Maryland and came to the frigid Midwest. Why? I wanted to start anew, but could have gone anywhere. I chose Chicago because of my [then] infant nephew and because some instinct told me this place would offer me everything I needed to call it home. On both counts, I have not been disappointed.
My first months, here-and-not-here, were difficult, to say the least. Working far too many hours, camping at my brother’s, trying to manage and sell a home from 700 miles away. I had few bright spots except the satisfaction of working directly with some wonderful Chicago families in one of my roles, and the precious hours with little Sam and his older half-sister. I didn’t feel I had time to find and create a community of my own, either personally or professionally.
In the months since my employer and I went our separate ways, that has been remedied. My instincts were right about Chicago: I feel more settled personally here than I ever have, anywhere I have lived. That’s not to say I regret any of my other sojourns, but I’m here to stay. The communities I’ve joined – especially UTUUC, the Cycle Club, and Sing to Live Community Chorus – are home for me now.
Professionally, I have been welcomed by fellow geeks in a big way. There’s just a difference in the way people behave when they gather here, a sense of community that I never saw in my old professional landscape. I really like the way organizations make it a point to meet both in the Loop and in the suburbs – as if to say, all of ChicagoLand is valuable. I have not seen much “us vs them”, and I like that much better. (That said, I am personally much happier in the Loop and would rather take the L there than drive to a suburban location. But that’s just me.) I like the many folks who freely share experience and information. That wasn’t nonexistent in the mid-Atlantic, but it was far more rare than it is here. Between the community and the BVA (see my last post), I feel almost settled here professionally, as well. Just one rather important component of that to go.
The warming weather has made me cheat some and get out for solo afternoon bike rides. It feels good to be on my ancient cycle again, and sometimes the job search gets kind of old. I love meeting and talking with people, but I could do without the rest of the drill. I sure hope I meet and talk with someone who says “we’ve been looking for you” very soon. I won’t even complain when my rides are confined to evenings and weekends.
On to April.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
A reluctant project end
My BVA project is nearing its end, and I find I’m a little sad about that.
I joined the Arts & Business Council of Chicago’s Business Volunteers for the Arts program last fall. It looked like a delightful way to use my professional skills to give back to something that has given me vast amounts of pleasure over the years, both as a participant and as an audience member. I was welcomed warmly by BVA Program Manager Katie Kurcz, went to volunteer training, and avidly read through all the materials provided.
My first project was to head up a team to help the Oistrach Symphony Orchestra create a strategic plan. The OSO is the dream and brainchild of young violinist and conductor Mina Zikri. Mina wanted to create a place where newly-degreed musicians could get professional experience and create quality music. He also wants to bring classical music to young professionals and to families with young children, two demographics who seem to have mostly bypassed classical for any of the other musical choices they have these days.
The OSO has been a legal entity for more than 4 years, but it turned out it was still being shored up by only two people – Mina, and another violinist and generous volunteer, Margaret. Mina has been recreating the orchestra itself on a project-by-project basis, never knowing for sure when the resources could be put together to perform. Given his inability so far to promise much, he has not even asked much from the musicians with whom he has worked, even though many of them willingly come back to work under his baton again and again. Margaret has a financial background and volunteered last summer to apply for a couple of grants on behalf of the orchestra. That has morphed into her acting in the role of Executive Director, entirely on a volunteer basis.
So, off we went. Digging up information, doing research, asking questions, making suggestions, playing with ideas, documenting it all piece by piece. I am amazed at how quickly the 3 months have gone. I am amazed at how hard we have worked – but also at how much we have managed to accomplish. Margaret and my fellow BVA Marjorie have created fantastic financial forecasts based on some of our proposed activities. It’s so tremendously helpful to the next steps in the process.
A couple of weeks ago I got to hear the orchestra in concert, and watch Mina’s musical leadership. These guys are GOOD. It had never occurred to me to doubt that this was a worthwhile project, but….wow. The motivation I had before to want to do my best to help them quadrupled that night. All I can say is, if you get the chance, you should come hear them. Do keep an eye on them (and yes, we've recommended they put up a more informative website).
I think we really hit a wonderful project mountain peak last night. One of our early and strong recommendations was to gather their board (they did have one; they couldn’t have gotten their non-profit corporation status without it) and remake it from “paper” to “active”. There were many concerns about this, but most of them proved not to be problems at all. When approached with our ideas in hand, all but two board candidates confirmed their interest in helping the organization in this way. So Mina and Margaret recruited a replacement for the dropout, and last night we all got together for the OSO’s first ever real board meeting. Marjorie and I were only there to help facilitate a little and to present our work and our preliminary findings. These great people stepped right up. One took over leading the meeting until they can elect officers, there were great discussion and action points brought up, and every member there actively participated. I can’t tell you what a rush it was to see this little, wonderful, group start to stand up and head for growth! It feels like our work will really be used, really make a difference. I could tell you stories about “real” consulting gigs where I charged lots and lots of money but didn’t feel like I was helping this much. The difference here was a real affirmation to the mission of the organization. We were truly all on the same page and no one in the room last night had an alternate agenda. I guess I can’t be certain there will never be politics in the way of where this orchestra wants to go, but last night we only had a group of people who really want to make this dream happen. It was magical.
Marjorie and I have additional work to do on the Strategic Plan Document, but before the end of April we will be officially turning it over to Mina and Margaret for them to pass on to the OSO Board of Directors. Review and discussion of the document is already on their next meeting agenda, and they will be working via email and phone on deciding who will lead which of the projects to come: volunteer organizing, fund raising, marketing, venue search, and many others.
The AB&C is fairly strict about BVAs adhering to the scope of projects and not hanging on afterward. When I learned about this in orientation, I merely thought “of course”. Now I understand why they made such a fuss about it. I’ve fallen in love with the OSO and its people and will be very sorry to step away from it. But I will certainly become a donor as soon as I am able and will be first in line to buy season tickets when they offer them!
I joined the Arts & Business Council of Chicago’s Business Volunteers for the Arts program last fall. It looked like a delightful way to use my professional skills to give back to something that has given me vast amounts of pleasure over the years, both as a participant and as an audience member. I was welcomed warmly by BVA Program Manager Katie Kurcz, went to volunteer training, and avidly read through all the materials provided.
My first project was to head up a team to help the Oistrach Symphony Orchestra create a strategic plan. The OSO is the dream and brainchild of young violinist and conductor Mina Zikri. Mina wanted to create a place where newly-degreed musicians could get professional experience and create quality music. He also wants to bring classical music to young professionals and to families with young children, two demographics who seem to have mostly bypassed classical for any of the other musical choices they have these days.
The OSO has been a legal entity for more than 4 years, but it turned out it was still being shored up by only two people – Mina, and another violinist and generous volunteer, Margaret. Mina has been recreating the orchestra itself on a project-by-project basis, never knowing for sure when the resources could be put together to perform. Given his inability so far to promise much, he has not even asked much from the musicians with whom he has worked, even though many of them willingly come back to work under his baton again and again. Margaret has a financial background and volunteered last summer to apply for a couple of grants on behalf of the orchestra. That has morphed into her acting in the role of Executive Director, entirely on a volunteer basis.
So, off we went. Digging up information, doing research, asking questions, making suggestions, playing with ideas, documenting it all piece by piece. I am amazed at how quickly the 3 months have gone. I am amazed at how hard we have worked – but also at how much we have managed to accomplish. Margaret and my fellow BVA Marjorie have created fantastic financial forecasts based on some of our proposed activities. It’s so tremendously helpful to the next steps in the process.
A couple of weeks ago I got to hear the orchestra in concert, and watch Mina’s musical leadership. These guys are GOOD. It had never occurred to me to doubt that this was a worthwhile project, but….wow. The motivation I had before to want to do my best to help them quadrupled that night. All I can say is, if you get the chance, you should come hear them. Do keep an eye on them (and yes, we've recommended they put up a more informative website).
I think we really hit a wonderful project mountain peak last night. One of our early and strong recommendations was to gather their board (they did have one; they couldn’t have gotten their non-profit corporation status without it) and remake it from “paper” to “active”. There were many concerns about this, but most of them proved not to be problems at all. When approached with our ideas in hand, all but two board candidates confirmed their interest in helping the organization in this way. So Mina and Margaret recruited a replacement for the dropout, and last night we all got together for the OSO’s first ever real board meeting. Marjorie and I were only there to help facilitate a little and to present our work and our preliminary findings. These great people stepped right up. One took over leading the meeting until they can elect officers, there were great discussion and action points brought up, and every member there actively participated. I can’t tell you what a rush it was to see this little, wonderful, group start to stand up and head for growth! It feels like our work will really be used, really make a difference. I could tell you stories about “real” consulting gigs where I charged lots and lots of money but didn’t feel like I was helping this much. The difference here was a real affirmation to the mission of the organization. We were truly all on the same page and no one in the room last night had an alternate agenda. I guess I can’t be certain there will never be politics in the way of where this orchestra wants to go, but last night we only had a group of people who really want to make this dream happen. It was magical.
Marjorie and I have additional work to do on the Strategic Plan Document, but before the end of April we will be officially turning it over to Mina and Margaret for them to pass on to the OSO Board of Directors. Review and discussion of the document is already on their next meeting agenda, and they will be working via email and phone on deciding who will lead which of the projects to come: volunteer organizing, fund raising, marketing, venue search, and many others.
The AB&C is fairly strict about BVAs adhering to the scope of projects and not hanging on afterward. When I learned about this in orientation, I merely thought “of course”. Now I understand why they made such a fuss about it. I’ve fallen in love with the OSO and its people and will be very sorry to step away from it. But I will certainly become a donor as soon as I am able and will be first in line to buy season tickets when they offer them!
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Thoughts on Leadership
Not long ago I read a posting on one of my LinkedIn groups that was titled “The Myths of Leadership”. The poster went on to say, basically, that all this leadership hype meant that everyone wanted to be a chief and nobody was willing to be Indians anymore. I was so stunned I didn’t post a response. I found I couldn’t write one without sounding like I thought the guy was an idiot – which is in fact what I think.
How, in this day, can anyone still be confused about the difference between leadership and being in charge? Sure, the buck has to stop somewhere. But when I run a project or lead a team, I want EVERYONE on it, from my management lieutenants down to the intern maintaining our document repository, to have a clear sense of what s/he means to the success of the enterprise and the knowledge that I want them all to be leaders.
There are lots and lots of good leadership books out there. I happen to like Ed Oakley and Doug Krug, who wrote Enlightened Leadership and Leadership Made Simple. I also like Steven Covey’s Principle-Centered Leadership. Perhaps I like these precisely because they don’t target higher management. They address the individual and show how anyone, regardless of title, can lead – by example, by initiative, by communication.
What’s worse, this guy is a consultant. The FIRST thing a consultant needs to learn (assuming, of course, that s/he knows the subject area) is that consultants never have any real authority. You have to communicate, cajole, convince. You have to LEAD, because you can’t order people around. If you can’t bring people on board and have them all moving toward the same goal, you aren’t going to get anywhere.
Steven Covey puts it well when he talks about “shared mission and values”. I suppose there are folks who think that’s pretty hokey, but it really resonates with me. That’s why, when I’m researching an organization as a potential employer, the first thing I do is see what mission is posted on their website. It will take more work to find out if they really live that mission, but if there isn’t one there in the first place that’s a huge red flag for me. Ditto for the consultancy of anyone I would hire to help me solve a problem or implement a project. I’m sure you can guess that this person’s solo consultancy website has nothing I’d look for. One thing it does say, without explaining what he means, is “Better People” Really? I can’t think of very many things more demoralizing than communicating the attitude “I’m the leader and you’re all followers, so just do what you’re told.”
I went back to look at the discussion on LinkedIn, which is now more than a week old. He only has one comment, a rambling, quasi-apologetic piece from someone I’ve heard speak at local AITP meetings. She spent a lot of time talking about how she “looks at leadership differently” and how “we can all agree to disagree”. True, perhaps, but useless. I have to go one step farther, and that is, “If that’s your definition of leadership, I don’t want you anywhere near my team.”
Monday, March 1, 2010
Introductions
Variety is the spice of life. This is my clever way of not having to choose a single topic or category for my blog. I've never grabbed just one thing and run with it to the exclusion of all others. As a professional I am happiest when I have to wear multiple hats. I have lots of interests both at work and elsewhere and want to pay homage to the richness it gives my life.
I recognize the "lack of focus" might mean few other than my own circle of supportive and tolerant friends will wish to follow me -- but that's just fine. If I have some great conversations and make a few new friends along the way, that's all I could wish from this exercise in public musing. I've NO interest in becoming famous, only in increasing my connections in a way that benefits both me and those friends-to-be.
So, welcome to March 2010. It is something of an arbitrary beginning. I don't know about you, but I figure I'm about halfway through my life. I intend to make it the better half!
Here is something I read and think about every day. It's on the wall above my computer:
I recognize the "lack of focus" might mean few other than my own circle of supportive and tolerant friends will wish to follow me -- but that's just fine. If I have some great conversations and make a few new friends along the way, that's all I could wish from this exercise in public musing. I've NO interest in becoming famous, only in increasing my connections in a way that benefits both me and those friends-to-be.
So, welcome to March 2010. It is something of an arbitrary beginning. I don't know about you, but I figure I'm about halfway through my life. I intend to make it the better half!
Here is something I read and think about every day. It's on the wall above my computer:
My life is a sacred journey
It is about change, growth, discovery, movement, transformation
Continuously expanding my vision of what is possible,
Stretching my soul,
Learning to see clearly and deeply,
Taking courageous risks,
Embracing challenges at every step of the way.
I am on the path--
Exactly where I am meant to be, now.
And from here, I can only go forward, shaping my life story in a magnificent tale of triumph, of healing, of courage, beauty, wisdom, power, dignity and love.
Here's to our journeys, starting today.
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