Think it through before you do….
Having the best Improvement District Software in the world will help you get organized, but the thinking part is up to you! 🙂
As an Executive Director or a Staffer you have leverage. It’s a fact. You and your staff have access to people and/or resources that many other organizations don’t always have. Why is that? You have this leverage and access because you represent a multitude of property and business owners. You are the face and voice for issues that effect hundreds of owners (which translates to taxpayers).
When you are making a phone call to a vendor or a government agency. it’s not just one person they hear. They recognize that your voice speaks to represent all those owners. You can make a phone call or send an email and things move along. Sounds pretty cool right? It is. This is why you have to make sure that you aren’t calling your connections for every little issue.
My encouragement today for you is to be sure to make “it” count the next time you want to move something along. Before you pick up that phone or draft that email, be sure that you are considering the big picture. You want to always maintain good working relationships with organizations, agencies, etc. and sometimes ED’s or staffers can demand things in the wrong way and that doesn’t always leave a positive impression on those who have the ability to help. Sure the squeaky wheel gets oiled, but this method isn’t always the best to maintaining relationships. Being intentional about who you call and when will take you farther than anything else.
Deciding to be intentional with the communication did two things:
First of all, they would answer my calls or emails – they knew when I called it was never for a small issue. If you are constantly calling for small issues, people are less likely to respond in a timely fashion. Some of my community partners that I worked with were law enforcement and gov’t officials. After speaking to them and just listening when they related issues they faced with other organizations who demanded things quite frequently, I made a decision. I tried as much as possible to not call them with the smaller issues that could be handled another way. I really only went to them with some of the bigger issues. Sure enough, when the big issues came up, they always delivered and took care of things.
Secondly, it forced me to always be looking for creative solutions to different issues that we faced in our district. Many times the help you need can be found right in front of you. It will be the owners you are already working with or the community organizations you are a part of. This will expand your scope of influence even more when people realize that you are a solution finder instead of a problem pointer. Remember, you represent a large group of people. Always put your best foot forward and make it count!
I hope this helps.