Why do Succession Planning?

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Succession Planning

or…

Your Chapter’s Future: It’s not all about you

• How do Chapters die?

• Why succession planning is good. And smart.

• How do I find my successor?

• So how do I get him/her elected?

• How do I train my successor?

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2014 SFBAC Officer Training Workshop (DeHope)

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How do I train my successor?

2014 SFBAC Officer Training Workshop February 25, 2014

Michael’s at Shoreline, Mtn View, CA Bill DeHope

Why do Succession Planning?

The Bathtub Mortality Curve & You!

• Something could happen to you.

• Yeah, you’re gonna’ die.

• That’s why you buy life insurance.

• Your section leaders want some insurance on you.

• Even if 50 chapters with 4 officers each only elect

30-year-olds, there’s a 20% chance at least 1 will

die this year. 1 – (1-.001)

200

_{= 1 – (1-.2) = 20%}

SFBAC Officer Training Workshop (DeHope)

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P

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Why do Succession Planning?

Something could happen you…Part B

B as in …

• Hey, I know! You can Chair

IEEE’s Celestial Section!

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How do I recognize Burnout?

• I no longer feel challenged • I’m predictable

• I don’t try new things

Don’t confuse burnout

• I take my position for granted • I don’t imagine my successor

• I’m no longer somewhat humbled by my office

• I’ve lost the respect I once had for others, esp. my “superiors” • I don’t plan the future much, hey, I know it all already.

• Am I a dynasty?

with a nervous breakdown!

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• Have I gotten too comfortable in IEEE?

– Not “at attention”, but “at ease”, though not slouching – Does your posture give you away?

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So how do IEEE Chapters die?

• Mortal Death? – <0.1% occurrence

• Gross misconduct of officers? – <1% occurrence

• Field dies out, jobs go away, technical interest wanes?

– <5% occurrence

• No, cause of death is usually the

Unholy Trinity:

– Lack of

succession

planning

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–

Overextension

of existing officers

–

Burnout

of existing officers

– All are signs of burnout.

What do you mean by Overextension?

• Literally, holding an office for more than 2 terms (ie 2 years), the IEEE limit • Continuous cycling through y g g

the Treas-Secy-VC-Chair positions (8 years)

• Figuratively, stretching out your stay when you should be moving on

• Perhaps also clinging to something you should let go of ??? • It’s not healthy for your chapter

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It s not healthy for your chapter

• It’s not healthy for you (do new things instead!) • It cheats others out of opportunities you had

• Overextension squeezes out life—get some “New Blood” instead • Rx: successor planning + election

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You have responsibilities as an officer…

• Typically Chapter Planning takes place before or after technical meetings…

– So what happens when you go without a technical meeting? No planninggets done either!

– Dereliction of duty on the part of Secretary, Speaker Coordinator?

– Chair failed to motivate, nag, keep to schedule? – All are signs of burnout.

• Your section is very concerned with this

– But we only see the chapter Chairs at section excoms. – We don’t know when he’s become a “one man show”

All sections can do is enforce the election rules

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– All sections can do is enforce the election rules – That might be 1 year too late.

• What about the IEEE term limits?

– Think you’re cute when you’ve “gotten away with it”? – You’re not. You’re setting your chapter up for eventual

death. And that’s not cute.

But no one else will take this job!

• Oh yeah? How did YOU get the job?

• Are you trying as hard as your predecessor did? • Is this personal? Do you have something to prove?

IEEE ’t b th h f f il • IEEE can’t be the haven for fragile egos

• Are you scared of something? The new, the untried?

Maybe no one knows what your job is? Have you made it look easy? Automatic? Do you have job descriptions?

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Do you have job descriptions? Examples at www.ieee.org

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Why do Succession Planning?

Moving on might be better than not moving at all

• Life is never stagnant. You’re either moving forward or backward. • Move UP in IEEEMove UP in IEEE.

Serve in Section, Council, Region • You deserve it! • Make room for others! • Moving on to other things

should be seen as moving

Maybe you will have a nervous breakdown!

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should be seen as moving up to other challenges

– “Move on” to start new chapters

– “Move on” to serve in appointed positions – “Move on” to other service positions elsewhere – Even your family!

Why do Succession Planning?

Part of leadership is grooming your successor

• All real leaders do this. You know I’m right. • Planned obsolescence isn’t always bad. • It’s a common challenge before promotions

• Think of parenting. You have ~30 years to make your child independent of you. You’re not doing anyoneany favors if they remain dependent after that.

• This doesn’t happen overnight • Define your chapter’s needs • Who will make a good leader?

R it/“ t” th t

Creation isn’t easy

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• Recruit/“court” that person • Plan & hold an election • Have clear job descriptions

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WHEN to do Succession Planning?

• All year long! Starting at the beginning of your term.

• Yes, the Chair needs to nag people, keep them on plan

• But finding (new) officer(s) is the MOST important job of

the Chair

• Find your replacement! Bring them into your rotation.

• The election is an IEEE requirement

• But it is the culmination of a year’s worth of thought,

investigation, and grooming.

• Expecting nominations from the floor?

You’re dreaming.

• So HOW do you do succession planning?

• Go fishing!

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How do you fish?

• With a net

– Announce a need for volunteers at your first meeting – Use eNotice for an email. List some specific tasks,

like membership chair, that you have a backup for. List your “entry” office for next year. Reference your List your entry office for next year. Reference your job descriptions. Make it easy to reply to you. – Ask trusted people for recommendations.

“Keep an eye out for someone” and follow-up.

• With a spear

– Spot the regulars at your meetings. Take pictures and look for repeats. By your 3rd_{meeting, spear ‘em!}

(Pictures will be great for your website too!) (Pictures will be great for your website too!) – Consider current and past colleagues. Spear ‘em.

• With a pole

– Ask for volunteers. “Who can bring cookies?” Simple, non-critical tasks. Exchange cards. – Do they follow-through? Reel ‘em in.

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General suggestions:

• Life happens and you might lose an officer mid-year

• “Something could happen to you…Part C” for

c

areer

• Rx: have flexible, well-trained officers who can adapt

• Have an officer rotation so others can cover the job

Have an officer rotation so others can cover the job.

• Cross-train…but if swapping tasks, communication is

critical

• Give little jobs to potential candidates

• Have appointed positions as your AAA farm team

• Honor your existing officers EVERY MEETING

• Make sure all are engaged…lookout 4 burnout

• Discuss candidates at planning meetings

• Settle on the new officer(s) before the last (election)

meeting. Be wary of over-ruling your other officers.

• Have an election. In-person or vTools.

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Finally, hold an election!

• Get your chapter thinking about it early in the year – Announce a Nominating Committee

– Independent, avoid conflict-of-interestp – Have a “slate” of candidates

– Members must be free to nominate

• Minimal Action: Chair announce election and request nominations at the penultimate technical meeting of the year

– sample announcement follows

• Get buy-in from existing Excom officers in advance – Look for “fresh blood” to bring into rotation

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– Consider “moving up” to a Section officer, other position • Hold the election

– at the final technical meeting of the year – sample ballot attached

– tally votes; “Teller’s Committee” should be independent, no CoI – Post winners to IEEE via vTools Officer Reporting Form (L-10)

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Sample election announcement and call for nominations.

Display at the introductory part of your penultimate meeting.

Nominations for the 2015 Executive Officers of the

Oakland/East Bay Chapter of the

Nuclear & Plasma Sciences Society

Can be sent to

Bill DeHope, Nominating Committee University of California

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

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Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory 7000 East Ave. L-153

Livermore, CA 94550 [email protected]

IEEE Nuclear & Plasma Sciences Society

Oakland/East Bay Chapter

Sample Election ballot: final meeting of the year

Executive Committee Ballot 2015

Chairman: Joe Mauger ____________

Vice Chairman/Speaker Coordinator: Tony Lavietes

16 ____________ Secretary: Paul Banchero ____________ Treasurer: Ed Lampo ____________

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At the Section level…

• Know the cause of death, the Unholy Trinity

• Know the signs of impending death

– More than 2 terms in same positionMore than 2 terms in same position – “No one else will do it” excuse