"required reading" for chairs

[falieson]

I am the new VP for my colony and I was thinking about how to go about getting all my chairs on the same page for winter quarter when they take over their positions. I have read many of the popular self improvement books like "7 habits of highly effective people" and "how to win friends and influence people".

I was wondering if anyone has participated in something similar to this and how it went as well as any suggestions you may have for material along these lines.

My goal is to unify my chairs on the importance of organization, delegation, and timeliness. By giving them the same book to read over winter break, and we can return and talk about it - maybe share notes or whatever we will grow together and expand based on a point of common knowledge.

We are at a critical point either we are going to explode this quarter, charter, and be the best new fraternity on campus or ... we aren't and a lot of us will have wasted a lot of time and money.

Thanks for your help and suggestions!

[33girl]

Did you find the colonizing materials from your national insufficient? That's something that definitely all the chairs should read.

As far as the self-improvement books...some people really like them and get a lot out of them, and some people can't stand them and think they're a lot of hooey. If you're the only one that's jazzed on them, "requiring" them to be read isn't going to endear you to anyone. But you know your guys better than I do to know if they'd be receptive.

Everyone is going to do things a little differently and you all have to find a way to work together - that's part of being Greek.

[adpiucf]

Members are extremely overprogrammed as it is between sorority obligations, other activities, family, friends, and oh yeah... school.

Don't make them do a book report. If you want everyone on the same page, plan and facilitate an interactive workshop at officer transitioning. At most, pass out a one sheet where you summarize those 7 habits. Although these seven habits are common sense. You might get a more inspired response if you invite the officers to participate in a collective brainstorming session where you take their ideas and draw up on a white board the "7 Highly Effective Habits of a Sorority Officer." People are more inclined to go with the program when they are allowed to participate in the program. Be sensitive that these officers are volunteers.

[AlphaFrog]

Originally Posted by adpiucf

sorority

Sorority

Be sensitive

(Psst....he's a guy...)

[skylark]

I would definitely shy away from making the reading required... it just isn't the best way to motivate others. Maybe the best thing to do would be to come up with a program presenting the 7 effective habits and either present this to the executive/chapter council or to the entire chapter. Make sure you have visual diagrams and handouts, and then at the end of the program, let people know where they can buy/borrow the book from if they get really excited about the material and want to learn more.

[KSUViolet06]

I suggest creating a Power Point presentation of the most important things you want the guys to learn from the book, and presenting it at chapter meeting, officer training, rush workshop, or some other important event.

People have enough reading to do for school, I wouldn't give them required reading. They most likely wouldn't read it anyway. If you present it in some concise manner, then they have the opportunity to learn from the book without having to read the whole thing.

[AlphaFrog]

Originally Posted by KSUViolet06

I suggest creating a Power Point presentation

Unless you're one of the rare people gifted with the ability to use PowerPoint effectively......no.