The College World Reporter

The College World=20 Reporter

May 2010=20

www.CWRMagOnline.com

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Sheryl's=20 Success = Strategies

I=20 Don't Want That Job! =20
By Sheryl = Nicholson,=20 = CSP

Sheryl=20 Nicholson, CSP

Have you=20 ever said that? You've been put into the = position to=20 write or help write policies that will allow = your=20 fraternity, sorority, or organization to run = smoothly=20 and efficiently. Will the rest of your = members=20 "abide by the rules?" Probably = not.....nobody=20 likes to be TOLD what do to, no matter what = their=20 age. So here are some tips to get your = team to=20 "buy in".=20

1. =20 Of course the best case scenario is to hold=20 a=20 =

brainstorming=20 (noodlejam) meeting with = representatives

=20 from all departments present to create a draft = of=20 your

=20 policy book.

2. =20 If you're going to write the policies without = input,=20 allow

=20 your team to offer suggestions to modify and=20 improve

=20 the policies before they're "carved in=20 stone."

=20

3. =20 Whenever our office creates a new policy for our = book we=20

=20 also list the benefits of doing something a=20 particular

=20 way. That way you don't have team=20 members

=20 wondering "where did they come up with=20 THAT

idea/ru= le?"

4. =20 Lead by example. If others see that = you=20 aren't putting

=20 up a fuss about the new policies then they will=20

=20 understand that they will be able to work = through=20 them.

&= nbsp; =20

5. =20 Find internal cheerleaders. Who are the = members of=20 =

=20 your team that get excited about change, growth, = and

expansio= n? =20 Let them know that you need them "in

=20 your corner" to rally the troops. Chances = are they=20 will

=20 be excited about being recognized that they = are

=20 flexible and willing to=20 co-lead.

6. =20 Remember the different ways that people deal=20 = with
=20 a change. Some will ignore or deny it, = others will=20

=20 test it, one or two will cheer it, and a few = will

=20 accept it. Understanding that, you will = know=20 who

=20 may need that extra one-on-one time to = answer

=20 the questions they are struggling with.

Feeling an ambush coming=20 on? What happens when the policy has = already been=20 set, everyone seemed to accept it but now you = have a=20 hall full of "rattlesnakes"? Rattlesnake = is the=20 name I call passive-aggressive = communicators. When=20 something happens that they just don't like, = instead of=20 speaking up at that moment, they slither away = down the=20 hall, under a bush somewhere. Months go = by, maybe=20 something else happens, or something is said, = and again=20 they quietly slither into another office. = Then one=20 fine sunny day, months later, you ask them a = harmless=20 question and suddenly the fangs come out. = You are=20 struck with a verbal bite you weren't prepared=20 for.

These people are also your = fraternity,=20 sorority, or organization policy = saboteurs. You=20 thought they were fine with the policy book = because=20 nothing was said otherwise and yet, quietly your = organizational process is falling apart. A = piece=20 of procedure missing here, a few minor = infractions=20 there, and before you know it...you'd been = ambushed!=20

So now what? Hold a Zitch = List =99=20 Party! I recommend that these be held at = least=20 every quarter, but with all the change going on = in=20 organizations today, it may be better for YOUR = group to=20 do one every 6 weeks! How does it=20 work?

Get a piece of flip chart = size paper.=20 On the paper draw a large T. On the top = left half=20 of the T put a "-" sign and on the top right of = the T=20 put a "+" sign.

Now have a=20 party! Ask for input. All the things = that=20 people are complaining about gets written on the = left=20 side on the paper. When you think they're = finished=20 "zitching" ask them "Is there anything else you = would=20 like to put on your list?" Ask this = question THREE=20 times so that they can really dump their = complaints out=20 of their head and onto the = paper.

When=20 they're finished, ask which of those items do = they have=20 control over. That list will be moved over = to the=20 right side, under the + sign. Don't be = surprised=20 if only one or two things get moved over. = My years=20 of doing this, no matter what size the = organization,=20 shows that most of us complain about things we = have=20 absolutely no control over. For example, = the=20 weather, the poor attitudes of some people, = someone=20 else's duties, or policies. =

If there=20 is something that can be moved over, ask the = next=20 question: "What are you going to do about=20 it?" This empowers the person to focus on=20 solutions that bring positive = results.

If=20 the majority of things can't be moved over then = you=20 simply remind them of this = phrase:

If it's=20 Out of Your Control...LET IT = GO!

Then ask=20 them to participate as a representative to = modify and=20 update the next policy = book.

About The = Author: CSP=20 Sheryl Nicholson is an International = Professional=20 Speaker and Author and rated in the top 8% in = the=20 profession. She has been doing training = since the=20 1980s and also has a private coaching business. = She is=20 known as a People Productivity Expert = focusing on=20 skill development in sales, leadership, time = management,=20 goals, communication, and life balance. Her = articles are published everywhere. For more = information=20 visit Sheryl's website, http://www.sheryl.com/, or = call=20 727.729.4937.

Legal=20 = Information

The=20 CWR logo, the It's = A=20 Reader's World logo, and the names,=20 Leader's, Mentors, and Role = Models;=20 Career Zone; and = Security=20 Focus are all either trademarks or = copyrights=20 owned by Donell Edwards Media, and may not be = copied,=20 reproduced, or used in any manner without prior = written=20 consent.

Disclaimer

The=20 College World Reporter may contain links to = websites=20 that are created and maintained by other = organizations.=20 Donell Edwards Media does not necessarily = endorse the=20 views expressed on these websites, nor does it = guarantee=20 the accuracy or completeness of any information=20 presented=20 = there.