Planning for Leadership Transitions

Being a good leader means more than having successful events. It also means making sure all voices are being heard and planning for your club leadership each year.

How to Be a Good Leader

• Know your leadership style. Assess your strengths and weaknesses as a leader. This will allow you to succeed with the skills that you have and collaborate with others in their areas of strength
   
• Be a role model. Members of your club will look up to you as a leader when you put your best foot forward, are fair, encourage active member involvement, & run effective meetings
   
• Be passionate. Members will see your passion and will want to be a part of the action
   
• Encourage creativity. Ask others for their ideas to make your club great. Keep things new & increase involvement in the activity of the members
   
• Give recognition. Giving club members recognition will motivate them & allow them to feel appreciated
   

Succession Planning

• Build relationships with club members and consider whether they might have what it takes to lead the club
   
• Ask other board members if they know anyone that would be a good potential candidate
   
• Hold regular elections to prepare for the upcoming year; give yourself enough time to make the best possible decision
   
• Remember, the end of the semester is a busy time (especially if you are graduating), so act early in recruiting new leaders
   
• Once you have elected a new club leader, hold a party to introduce them to the members; this will make everyone feel more at ease with the transition
   
• Share the new club leader's contact info with your NAMI state and/or local organization as well as NAMI national ([email protected]) to keep the flow of communication
   
• Remember to document your successful meetings and events so the future leaders can get a strong sense of what works well