Some people get nervous about picking out and training somebody to replace them. They feel like they won’t be needed as much. If you train your successor properly, they will help to make your job easier and more enjoyable. Its nice to know that if you are not able to do something, you have someone that can. It also makes the transition easier for all Chapters, Districts, and Regions.

You also want to make things easier on yourself in the event that you have someone on your staff step down. There is nothing more difficult than absorbing another position you have not prepared for nor time for. If you are a Chapter Director, you want to make sure you have someone to step into any of the staff positions you have. As a District Director, you want to make sure you have one for each of your staff positions as well as for the Chapter Directors in your state. As Region Directors, you want to make sure you have the staff positions as well as District Directors lined up.

To do this, keep an open mind with everyone you talk to. You never know when you might have something for them to help you with. You want to get an idea of what their strengths and weaknesses are. You also want to see what they do in their personal and professional lives to find out what their skills are. Look at it this way, they need you as much as you need them! They just may not know it yet. By helping, they will have more fun, more “ownership” and more importance to their fellow members. Just say, “Please” and they will jump onboard.

Now you can think of retiring someday.

Enjoy the ride,
Melissa
mnordeoff@gwrra.org