Advice from a Greek Advisor
- WHAT I ADVISE - Follow the mandates. Play by the rules.
- WHAT I WANT TO ADVISE - Do the right thing/Be exceptional.
Maybe these are the same thing. If so, wonderful. Time will tell.
However, someone needs to explain to me how requiring nothing and allowing nothing, is going to make strong members and strong organizations?
How do you become “exceptional” by doing nothing “exceptional”?
Is being exceptional a goal worth pursuing?
Would the University be proud if they graduated exceptional Greek students?
If so, is there a plan for us to do so?
What tools are we allowed to use?
Is an endless list of things considered “hazing” a tool for graduating exceptional individuals?
- WHAT I WANT TO ADVISE - Be safe.
Drawing the line at safety seems logical (easy to say, hard to define).
If something is “unsafe” then it should be avoided. Trick is to decide how that applies to groups. The range of perceptions about what is safe and unsafe, is unlimited and as unique as each personality.
This is where statistics are useful.
What is generally accepted based in numbers and historical results? What will statistically do the most good for the most people (both long and short term)?. Will there be exceptions... of course. But to run an organization, you have to primarily focus on what is likely to happen...and then try to address the exceptions.
- WHAT I WANT TO ADVISE - Use facts...not emotion (especially not fear).
- If you have clear evidence and studies that prove that making potential new members study for 3 hours a day (like this from Stanford) makes them better students...make them study.
- If you have clear evidence and studies that prove that making potential new members exercise a certain amount each week increases their likelihood of living healthy, long lives (links below)...make them exercise a certain amount each week (after assessing their fitness and putting them on an individual improvement program using professionals).
- If you have clear evidence and studies (like the military uses) that a certain amount of mental duress makes a person more likely to be able to handle life, and have success in critical situations...put them under duress that is appropriate to the training of those characteristics.
- If you have clear evidence and studies that show that cleaning and maintaining a house or piece of equipment makes the person providing the care have a higher level of respect for the thing being maintained (see links below)...make them clean and maintain.
...but you better have your ducks in a row, and be DAMN SURE your information is correct. If not, you take unacceptable risk and stand to do potentially organization-ending harm.
- WHAT I WANT TO ADVISE - execute (good intentions won’t cut it).
Your intentions are only as good as your implementation. If you decide to “do the right thing”, “be safe” and “use facts”, you damn well better execute. If individuals decide to go off the reservation, and disrupt the plan: you are only as good as your weak link...who just screwed you and your organization.
Here are some ways to execute:
be 100% transparent in what you are requiring.
Write down why you have these requirements and share the info freely and often with everyone.
Outline exactly how your program will be executed...and do only that plan.
Keep communication lines open and accessible to all interested parties (school, parents, police, students).
Make all your “traditions” fund raisers/philanthropic and open to the public.
If you can’t make it open and public ...get rid of it. It’s bad.
Hire professionals and third party folks to legitimize your ideas and help execute.
If you can’t do it because someone is scared: see “don’t make fearful decisions” from above.
- WHAT I WANT TO ADVISE - Measure and adjust (scientific method)
Entrance interviews - What are you looking for out of the new member program? Why are you participating? How would you measure success of this program? Etc.
Assess each entry level potential new members. Screen for potential problems (like a sports team).
Set benchmarks/goals for each individual, and document progress.
Set rewards for achievement of goals.
Hire professionals to audit, rate and adjust your program to make sure everyone is safe and following recommended procedures for success.
Measure how successful your members feel based on different criteria (happiness, money, relationships, spirituality, health, wellness, etc) and compare that to the general population.
Exit interviews - how did the program work? How do successful participants feel? Was it worth it? Did it give you value? Did it meet your expectations? Do you feel more or less prepared for success after completion?
- WHAT I WANT TO ADVISE - Be brave, educated and principled.
Going along with bad ideas makes you an accomplice.
Just because someone tells you to do something, does not make it right. Even if that person is a person of authority. Listen to your gut. You can get there, but you have to be brave. You have to be EXCEPTIONAL to risk doing something unpopular...because it’s right.
It’s scary when all the momentum is moving in one direction...but you know it’s wrong.
It’s hard to imagine all the abuse you will take for going against the current.
It’s terrifying to think that you or people you love will be targeted for speaking up.
But...not doing so, and being a part of this wrong thing, will be even worse because you will always know you participated in something that you could have made better...but were afraid.
Fear is never a good place for decision making. Facts, vision, competency, and bravery...is.
- WHAT I WANT TO ADVISE - Have a timeless perspective
Let time be your judge, not fashion, fads or momentum.
Sometimes you have to stand up and do the right thing, and let the world judge your actions. I truly believe the world is a really good judge of character: over time. Maybe not immediately...but over time. And if you want to stand for something in this life, you have to play long-ball. You have to plant your flag, and when the time is right, people will say, “you know, that person had wisdom and our best interests at heart.” And what could be more important than that?
Sometimes you need to question authority.
If you get in trouble for:
Doing the right thing
Being exceptional
Being safe
Using facts
Executing a well supported plan
Measuring results and following the scientific method
Being brave, educated and principled
And having a timeless perspective
...Then, that is worth getting into trouble about; as you hold the higher moral and intellectual ground. Maybe your “authority” is not worthy of having that distinction?
THAT’S WHAT I WANT TO ADVISE.
Support links:
Study hours - https://web.stanford.edu/~imalone/Teaching/ps1/PS1-DataAnalysis-CheatSheet.pdf
mental health - https://shapeamerica.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/02701367.1995.10607914?journalCode=urqe20#.XinbsS9OmfA
Physical health - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1424740/
Making people care - https://ssir.org/articles/entry/the_science_of_what_makes_people_care