To ensure your association will be taken care of beyond your reign as president or as a board member, you could start to identify individuals who might be able to lead and replace you one day. Here are recommendations to help you identify the right people.
Step 1 — Get to know the members in your association.
Find out the types of individuals that are in your group, paying particular attention to those who are a part of various committees. Learn about their experience, their commitment, their personality — whatever will potentially help your association moving forward.
Step 2 — Eliminate people who are wrong for the job.
There are some officials who are clearly wrong for leadership roles. You likely don’t want brand new officials running your group, for example. You also don’t what individuals who don’t have the skills (officiating or personality) to be successful. You want officials to stay with your association. The wrong people to serve as leaders can chase them out the door faster than they came in.
Step 3 — Find individuals who have time.
There are some great potential leaders in your association who aren’t right for serving as a board member simply because they don’t have the time for it. You need individuals who have the time or those who will make the time.
Step 4 — Look for respected individuals.
The individuals you identify should be held in high esteem in your association. They should be individuals who carry themselves the right way at meetings and games. They should be individuals who have maintained current, up-to-date knowledge and skills.
Step 5 — Find solid communicators.
An official might have everything going for him or her out on the field or court, but if the individual can’t communicate to someone else, the official likely isn’t cut out for leadership. Quality leaders are receptive to new ways of learning and able to offer constructive feedback.
Step 6 — Mentor interested individuals.
After you identify quality individuals who are interested in future leadership, take time to mentor them. Let them know what goes into running an association. Invite them to attend a board meeting as a guest. That way, if the individuals are elected, they have a head start.
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