Associations are obsessed with youth, and rightly so when you consider the median age of association memberships. So, a few years ago, after much hand-wringing and moaning, most associations produced a young leader program of some sort, ranging from patronizing mentoring schemes to authentic opportunities for sharing power.
Now, finally, someone has questioned the brain-drain produced by exiling immediate past leaders once their terms are complete. Not surprising to me is that the question comes from Mark Anderson--former co-conspirator at the launch of the Marketing Section Council at the association of associations--and now exec of the Society for Surgery of the Hand.
"It’s not about extending the reach of those who have been in power," Mark notes, "it’s about finding the right ways to keep those who have given so much engaged and contributing in a new less dramatic and intense way."
Off the top of my head, examples of groups pulling that off are true communities of practice and all define leadership more broadly than positional power.
Leadership isn't limited to committee or board seats. In one case, volunteers abolished such assignments, opting for ad hoc roles solving real problems.
Leadership is earned by those taking the initiative to advance the mission or raise the standard of practice.
Leaders create leaders by modeling behavior, doing essential work. Achievers want stretch assignments.
Meaningful work will not be found on committees or task forces with assignments like Monty Python's Ministry of Silly Walks. Meaningful work taps into the passion we have for our work and advances the mission.
Why not field experienced leaders to tackle really tough assignments? Deploy your hard core leaders as your hard corps leaders, and they will attract others to your cause.
Leaders emerge and morph when they can design their next experience, doing something that's relevant to them. Come to think of it, isn't that what young leaders want, too?
So, do you know of an organization that "is doing some interesting and innovative...to keep senior folks engaged?" Mark wants to know.
