One of the challenges that many organizations and institutions face at one point or another is "non-performance". Commonly, this is a board member, officer, or committee chairperson who for various reasons is unable or unwilling to perform in that job. Sometimes it is that they lack the skills and resources to perform the job. Sometimes it is that they lack the motivation to perform it. But nonetheless, the job isn't being done properly if at all.
Sadly, our Institution is no different. We see this on a regular basis in Freemasonry. Whether it is a lodge secretary that fails to get their records to Grand Lodge in a timely fashion, a Senior Warden who doesn't come to practice and thus doesn't even come close to getting his lines right, a Grand Line Officer who really isn't qualified to serve, or a busy committee chair who fails to give people the time they need to do what he asks of them - nonperformance or subperformance are major problems in our Fraternity.
The individuals involved, however, should not be blamed for this problem. Every instance of nonperformance has its very good reason for happening. Due to our declining (and aging) membership people are often being put into Offices that they aren't qualified for. Just someone had to do it and they didn't run away fast enough. Or they didn't really understand what they were getting into and found themselves in over their heads with no ready mentors available. Or if they were qualified, they got stuck with the job for 10-20 years and became burned out. There are a million individual reasons but they don't really matter. The problem is systemic, not individual.
Clearly, one part of the solution - which I have addressed in an earlier blog post - is to attract new, younger, more energetic members, give them complete understanding of what is expected of them in a job, and then provide the training/ mentoring and support needed for them to succeed. But there is another part. A Freemasonic cultural part that I think does us a great disservice.
In the Third degree ritual, the new Master Mason is enjoined to "in the most friendly manner" give another brother good counsel, remind him of his faults and help him in his "reformation" whenever possible. That is, when someone is messing up to gently let them know and help them remedy the situation. In theory anyway.
In practice, I have noticed that - in the name of maintaining brotherly goodwill - we tend to NOT be open and upfront about nonperformance and instead we keep it a secret and then mutter and gossip about it with our close associates. And thus, no chance for reformation ever happens.
If we HAD been friendly but direct with those individuals mentioned above, perhaps they would have sought guidance and training to do the job right or have gotten out of the Office before they reached a point where serious damage to the Institution's reputation and dignity could occur. The kind of damage that keeps new members away, unmotivates qualified leaders from volunteering (because who wants the frustration of trying to get something done with a bunch of nonperformers), and restricts the progress trying to made by brothers who have the drive and energy to make a positive difference.
As I said in my previous post, we need to think of our Fraternity just like any other organization. So in addition to questions of product, service and marketing, there needs to be responsibility and accountability. If someone isn't doing their job or not doing it properly they need to be told so "in the most friendly manner", assisted in learning how to do it so as to have every opportunity to succeed, and then expected to do so. If they are unable or unwilling to meet expectations, then they need to be replaced.
Our culture of secrecy - even about poor job performance by our Officers and chairpersons - does us a great disservice sometimes. In recent weeks I've begun to stand up and say out loud what everyone else was whispering. When people fail to do their jobs I tell them and try to help them succeed. This blog is just one way in which I am doing that.
To be honest..... I don't think it is making me very popular in certain circles. Change and accountability are two things most people try to have as little as possible of in their lives. But I feel that they are critical to the survival and revival of our beloved Fraternity.
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