Lessons Learned From a Decade of Brotherhood and Mentoring

Jason J. SwackhamerChartering President, Current Faculty Advisor and Chapter Director

Matt WingbladPast Alumni Comptroller, Current V.P. of SPAAS

• Started at SVSU in 1991

• Was involved, but wasn’t a leader

• Drifted through, just getting by

• Hit rock bottom in third year, and then…

• Was given a gift to be an orientation leader and everything changed

A Little About Swack

• Gained confidence, learned leadership, found my passion

• Led to changing major after fourth year

• It was then, when a campus rival approached me about starting a fraternity

• Sounded fun…but we had no idea

A Little About Swack

• We were clueless and nationals were not much help

• Mistakes were made…we adapted

• More mistakes were made…we learned

• Despite it all, we chartered and have enjoyed some success both locally and nationally

A Little About Swack

• I have been an alumni advisor and have seen the good, the bad and the ugly and want to share some of the lessons I have learned and hope to provide strategies to help navigate the challenges of leading an organization.

A Decade+ Later

• Started at SVSU in ??

A Little About Wingblad

• Balancing the highs and lows– Common themes of highs and lows

• Grooming future leaders

• Reputation management

• Importance of communication

• Securing the future through recruitment

Today We’ll Talk About

• All organizations go through periods of extreme highs and lows– Some years are better than others– Every school year has its own cycle

• You can survive these cycles through recognition and preparation

Lesson 1; Life is Cyclical

• Brief synopsis of the “first generation”

In the Beginning….

• Brief synopsis of the “second generation”

As we matured….

• The highs – generational common themes

Lesson 1; Life is Cyclical

• The lows – generational common themes

Lesson 1; Life is Cyclical

• Leaders are not born, they are groomed

• Leading by example is good, but sharing your wisdom is better

• An issue all student org’s face is a high rate of turnover– “Who is possibly going to step up next year?”

Lesson 2; Leaders Are Groomed

• Four bones of an organization– Jaw bone – All talk and no action, may come up with

good ideas but doesn’t act on them– Wish bone – Members who wish things get done but

don’t contribute– Knuckle bone – A member that doesn’t come up with

and ideas and is critical of others who do have ideas– Back bone – The workers of the org., it may not be

their idea, but the back bone makes sure the work gets done

• Who of these do you want to groom?

Lesson 2; Leaders Are Groomed

• Examples

Lesson 2; Leaders Are Groomed

• No matter how hard you try, the second you declare loyalty to an org., you are forever branded with a certain reputation and expectation of behavior

• How you decide to influence that reputation is up to you

Lesson 3; Your Reputation Always Preceeds You

• Show your worth– "You know, we reward people a lot for being

rich or being famous or being cute or being thin. One of the values that I think we need to instill in our country, in our children, is a sense, are you useful? Are you useful to other people? Are you making other people's lives a little bit better?" – Senator (now President) Barack Obama

• Examples

Reputation Management

• Gather allies– Rules are NOT made to be broken

• Respect the rules

– Liar, Liar, Pants on Fire• Honesty goes along way

– Thank you…may I have another• Accept criticism and punishment when it is deserved

– Are you as excited about me as I am• Communicate your success (we’ll discuss more later)

Reputation Management

• Trim the dead weight – “Being responsible sometimes means pissing

people off.” -- Colin Powell – Sometimes you just need to cut your losses

with some members and let the chips fall where they may

• Problem: These people often have a strong following

– Let them go, you don’t need them

Reputation Management

• Build your “Brand”– A brand is a promise to your publics…a promise

about the kind of experience they can expect with you and the value you will bring them

– Build through those dreaded letters, P.R.• It’s how you act in public; how you carry yourself

• Involvement both on campus and off (in community)

• Do you “toot your own horn”

Reputation Management

• Communication is the key to solving any situation….but it is hard work– "Opportunity is missed by most people because it

comes dressed in overalls and looks like work." -- Thomas Edison

• Communication for an org. crosses many audiences and comes in many forms

Lesson 4: Don’t ASSume They Know

• Active Membership

• Alumni

• Potential Members

• Campus & Surrounding Community

• Parents

• Nationals

Lesson 4: Don’t ASSume They Know