Does this sound like your association?
June 11th, 2008
Okay, how much do these suggested management approaches sound like what goes on in your association, especially within the board?
(1) Insist on doing everything through “channels.” Never permit short-cuts to be taken in order to expedite decisions.
(2) Make “speeches.” Talk as frequently as possible and at great length. Illustrate your “points” by long anecdotes and accounts of per sonal experiences. Never hesitate to make a few appropriate “patriotic” comments.
(3) When possible, refer all matters to committees, for “further study and consideration.” Attempt to make the committees as large as possible — never less than five.
(4) Bring up irrelevant issues as frequently as possible.
(5) Haggle over precise wordings of communications, minutes, resolutions.
(6) Refer back to matters decided upon at the last meeting and attempt to re-open the question of the advisability of that decision.
(7) Advocate “caution.” Be “reasonable” and urge your fellow-conferees to be “reasonable” and avoid haste which might result in embarrassments or difficulties later on.
(8) Be worried about the propriety of any decision — raise the question of whether such action as is contemplated lies within the juris diction of the group or whether it might conflict with the policy of some higher echelon.
Well, these aren’t actually “management approaches,” but business sabotage techniques from a manual published by OSS in 1944. Sadly, I have seen every single one of these techniques employed by association boards, CEOs and other staff and volunteer leaders throughout my career.
Have we been sabotaging the success of our organizations from the inside? Apparently we have.
Hat tip: David Weinberger (here’s a link to the PDF of the manual)
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