Page 14 - February 2021 Voices

FROM THE DESK

Next Person Up!

Eldred Brown, DTM - Program Quality Director

We have only three months left until elections is the passing of knowledge and wisdom to your
and 4-1/2 until the end of the term. Do you have successor.
a plan for how you’re going to hand the reins of In the workplace, you may know already

your Club, Area, Division, or District to your whom you can move forward into a vacancy
successor? Whether you’re a Club President, a when it arises, but with your officers elected
PQD like me eyeing a run for District Director, democratically, you may not know who your next
or you’re an Area/Division Director who’s chosen President will be until your Club officer elections

not to continue in your role, you need to know in May. Even so, you can still identify a strong
how you’re going to ensure a smooth leadership potential candidate early and work with that
transition for your position. A huge part of this candidate to prepare them for your role. Take
that person on as your protegé. Have your

protegé shadow you as your assistant. Talk
with your protegé frequently. Mentor
your protegé. Even if your protegé doesn’t
run for election, they will still be better

equipped to take other non-elected
leadership roles within your Club, which
will benefit your members.
In addition to finding a protegé to

groom for your role, you also need to have
a wealth of information you can pass on
to your protegé/successor. Identify what
went well during your term. What did

you find most rewarding in your position?
What did you find most challenging?
What would you do differently? What do
you wish you knew at the start of your

14 ONE COMMUNITY