Has your fraternity ever held an election for a position, and no one wanted to run? Chances are, your fraternity ends up talking someone into the position, and they do a terrible job because they didn’t want to do it in the first place. If this has ever happened to you, have you ever stopped to think why this situation occurred?
Blockbuster has declared bankruptcy, and Barnes and Noble are not far behind. These business giants from just a few short years ago were not able to adapt to the changing climate around them. As a result, they are nearly dead.
I have been an admirer of TJ Sullivan’s work for a long time. It was an honor to write this guest article for him.
I caught up with a fraternity brother last weekend. We were reliving the glory days and were discussing how successful our friends (both fraternity brothers and independents) in college became. And a strange realization happened.
There are only four types of officer. First, there are the lazy, stupid ones. Leave them alone, they do no harm…Second, there are the hard-working, intelligent ones. They make excellent staff officers, ensuring that every detail is properly considered. Third, there are the hard-working, stupid ones. These people are a menace and must be fired at once. They create irrelevant work for everybody. Finally, there are the intelligent, lazy ones. They are suited for the highest office. – General Erich Von Manstein (1887-1973).
Here is the situation – a fraternity brother does something stupid. The fraternity is upset, and there are a group of guys who want to have a judicial board meeting to hold him accountable. Of course, the logic is that will solve the problem.
It is an all too common reaction to blame the previous leader for the current challenges your fraternity is facing. Don’t fall for that trap!
At one point or another, every chapter of every Fraternity has become all too familiar with a general sense of apathy from an overwhelming number of its members. The leaders that are forced to run a chapter that is caught in such an epidemic will attest to the hell entailed.
Here’s a thought on how to reinvigorate your chapter, unite your brothers, strengthen recruitment, and impress your (Inter)national Headquarters: Values Congruence.
A good friend of mine is an executive with a well-known company. He recently shared with me a conversation he had with the CEO. The conversation shows why the CEO has been able to create one of the world’s greatest companies.
