Student Activities
Bush Campus Center, Rm. 107 · (570) 327-4763
Student Organization Leadership Transition
Whether you are a founding member of an organization or an emerging student leader assuming the reigns of leadership, you will want a place to begin—a blue print for your leadership role and your organization. Before you prepare to pass the mantle of leadership to another set of members, you can provide them with these blueprints.
Planned leadership transition:
- provides for a transfer of significant organizational knowledge. Your group will not have to re-invent the wheel each year.
- minimizes the confusion that occurs with the “changing of the guard.” While new officers try to figure out what is going on, precious time can be lost to the organization. This time lag affects the whole membership, who may not understand what all the confusion is about. It definitely lessens the group's ability to accomplish their tasks or goals.
- gives the outgoing leaders a sense of having completed their jobs or a sense of closure. It can help them let go—often a difficult thing for committed leaders to do.
- ensures that the valuable contributions of the experienced leaders will be utilized. They are often the most neglected members in your group.
- results in the new leadership having more knowledge, and consequently, greater confidence in their abilities.
When do you start? EARLY!!
The best transition begins much sooner than in the spring when new officers are selected. The following ideas will aid the transition process.
- Begin early in the year to identify emerging leaders in your organization.
- Encourage these potential leaders through:
- developing personal contact
- helping develop skill
- delegating responsibilities to them
- sharing with them the benefit of leadership
- clarifying job responsibilities
- modeling an effective leadership style
- When new officers have been elected, orient them as a group with all of the outgoing officers. This allows the new officers an opportunity to understand each other's roles and to start building their team. In some cases, individual officers may also need to meet with their predecessor for more detailed information.
What should be transferred? A partial list…
- constitution and by-laws
- organizational goals and objectives from previous years
- job descriptions/role clarification
- evaluations of previous projects and programs
- previous minutes and reports
- resources/contact lists
- manuals
- financial records, budgets, previous programming.
The transition should not be limited to just written materials. Outgoing leadership should take time to:
- write and share reports containing traditions, ideas or completed projects, continuing projects and concerns, or ideas never carried out;
- organize the group’s files;
- acquaint new officers with the physical environment, supplies, equipment and relevant college staff/faculty (including your adviser);
- share anything else that is important to know.
For new officers (and members!), an effective transition also includes teambuilding, organizational goal-setting and learning each others' work styles, among other organizational topics pertinent to your organization. Student Activities can assist you in formulating a productive transition plan (e.g., a transition notebook) as well as share how other organizations conduct their transitions.