I have worked as the Executive Director of a community mental health, substance misuse, housing, and abuse recovery agency for the past fourteen years. Presently the organization I work for has just under 100 employees, multiple local partners, and a very significant and daunting mission. It is a demanding job with an agency that is making a difference in our community. For those of you in similar positions you know that being in charge comes with challenges. As the years have gone by I find myself filing away simple little principles for my behavior that help me do my job more effectively. They are things I tell myself when I feel like taking a shortcut. Some of them apply to how I represent our agency. Some apply to how I make decisions. Some apply to how I treat others. None of them are terribly earth shattering but if you tuck then away and use them as reminders they can help keep you on track.
- It is better to be overdressed than underdressed.
- It is better to over-communicate important information than under-communicate important information.
- It is better to over-plan an intervention or change than under-plan an intervention or change.
- It is better to over-prepare for a presentation than under-prepare for a presentation.
- It is better to be early for an appointment or meeting than late to an appointment or meeting.
- It is better to leave more-than-enough time to get a project done than not enough time to get a project done.
- It is better to go overboard with thank-yous and appreciation than under acknowledge or not acknowledge people’s contributions and generosity.
- It is better to listen for a long time without speaking than to not listen long enough.
- It is better to get advice and perspectives from many people than fail to get enough advice.
- It is better to err on the side of generosity than fail to extend grace, mercy, or resources to someone in need.
Thanks for reading. Blessings to you.
Jerry