Page 15 - February 2021 Voices

term that would have made your year even questions, then congratulations! You have taken
better? What lessons did you learn the hard a huge step toward ensuring a smooth leadership
way? Past District 7 Director John Rodke talked transition for your Club, Area, Division, or

up his “Roses, Thorns, and Buds” method of District.
evaluating your officer term, with roses being the
good experiences, thorns being the challenging One of the things we
experiences, and buds being the opportunities

for personal growth. Maybe this framework of often miss in succession
self-evaluation works for you; maybe something
else works better. Either way, identify a way planning is that it
of evaluating your year so you can share your

evaluation with your successor. should be gradual and
Did you and your team establish any new
processes and protocols? With this year of thoughtful, with lots of
adaptation to a world of virtual meetings,

contests, and conferences, I’m sure your Club/ sharing of information
District Executive Committee must have learned
some best/worst practices for the conduct of your and knowledge and
Zoom meetings. Write those down! Share them

with your successor. perspective, so that it’s
What is your succession plan? Have you
identified a potential successor? Have you almost a non-event when
compiled all the information, knowledge, and

wisdom you wish to pass on to your successor? it happens.
Are you working with your potential successor
now to prepare that person to step into your
role on July 1? If you can answer yes to all these ~Anne M. Mulcahy

VOICES! | FEBRUARY 2021 15