By Tim Sloan
The time has come. “Max” has been on your board of directors since you were in the second grade. He was instrumental in leading the transition to four-person mechanics in football and his fingerprints all over negotiating game fee raises into the low double digits. In fact, the association wouldn’t be anything like it is today if it weren’t for Max. Just ask him. No, wait; you don’t have to ask him. He takes up a third of every board meeting and 20 minutes of every training session with his excruciating stories — like the one about how he broke the chair over the Tech coach’s head the time he confronted him in the dressing room after the game. Sadly, Max has to stand aside for some fresher blood and everybody knows it … except Max.
You tried pulling Max aside during the banquet last spring to talk him into stepping aside, but all he did was accuse you of being after his job. Max might even think he owes it to the membership to balance the ship, which you’ve been trying to steer hard over since you became president. What can you do to get Max out of the way before he hurts your association or, perhaps, even himself?
The interesting thing is how many people forget that officials associations are still democracies. Everybody’s first solution to Max is to give him a going-away party and then think about inviting him. Some want to give him an elaborate memento and a roast at the year-end party. For that matter, some want to put a horse head in his bed. But face the reality, kids; if Max really has to go, the membership will vote him out, especially if they pick up your cues. Max keeps getting voted back into office either because you haven’t done a good enough job of educating the masses about the problems Max is causing you or about the problems Max is causing them. As long as Max is not an issue to them, you still have a problem.
Leadership, sometimes, is doing what must be done, even if it threatens to be unpopular. If Max has to go — and won’t — you have to steer him to the door. How? First, avoid any kind of open confrontation with Max. Don’t fall into the trap of refusing to recognize him when he wants to talk at a meeting or cutting him off the instant it’s clear that another monologue is imminent. People will inevitably see that more as a negative against you and it stands to backfire. Instead, accept the fact that Max is around until the next election, but plan accordingly.
Solicit the best candidate you can find for Max’s position and support that person. Don’t wait for the nomination meeting and hope he isn’t acclaimed again. If you’re on solid ground with your membership, they will realize that your move to support “Gloria” in a run against Max has some purpose. Especially if Gloria is as reserved and to-the-point as Max is not, people will catch on that you’re asking for change without ever having to say a bad word about Max in open company. That changes the issue from being “about you” and pooches the punt inside Max’s five yardline. The next move is up to Max.
The best thing he could do is to read the handwriting on the wall and decide that the Wednesday night board meetings have been starting to conflict with VFW meetings and it’s time for him to pick the latter. Another thing he could do is challenge you in front of the membership to explain why you’re pushing somebody else for his seat. If you’re smart, you’ll let your actions speak for themselves and tell everybody that competition is healthy. He may even tell the membership everything you wish you could have told them, thereby exposing and justifying your motives with the same speech you never gave. Whatever the case, you’ll get your election, so you’d better be working to get your person elected.
Make sure that Gloria has something intelligent to say — preferably as counterpoint — every time Max stands up. Gently remind the membership of the credentials and accomplishments that make her a good candidate for the job. Coach her to express herself as an agent of change rather than your lapdog or someone who is out to get Max. Teach her all the things you’ve learned about who the movers and shakers are among your membership: In essence, whom does she have to sway to get them on the bandwagon and working for her election, too? Sorry, does that smack of politics? It does? Perhaps you’re in the wrong job, too.
The only way that Max is going to go without creating a schism in your organization is to get him voted out and make the membership feel like it was the greatest idea they ever had. It will help you, Gloria and the membership.
It might even help Max.
Tim Sloan, Davenport, Iowa, is a high school football, basketball and volleyball official, and a former college football and soccer official.
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