Dr. Val FarmerDr.Val
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Rural Mental Health & Family Relationships

Help Wanted Now: Rural Leaders

February 5, 2007

Rural organizations need help! Existing leaders have been serving for a long time. New blood needed to give relief and re-energize community efforts. More people need to join those who have already gone the second and third mile.

Positions available: Dynamic leaders who work for positive change while at the same time preserving the delicate balance of peaceful and harmonious relationships in the community. Must be able to develop a consensus, mobilize support from among already busy people, and work around resistance while maintaining goodwill.

Please note the qualifications ideally suited for the job. However, if you are breathing and want to help, we'll find a place for you.

Qualifications:

- Must work with others in common goals.

- Thick skin needed to tolerate jealousy, envy, gossip, criticism, and unfair characterization.

- Ability to keep confidences.

- Ability to listen to many opinions. Must empathize, show respect and goodwill to opposing groups.

- Ability to communicate vision, goals, ideas and to involve others in the planning and goal-setting process.

- Must have community interest at heart. No self-serving motives, hidden agendas or special interests tolerated.

- Willing to include others to diversify community leadership.

Communication and relationship skills:

- Can create non-threatening atmosphere where ideas are shared. Keeps personal opinions to self while encouraging ideas from others.

- Promotes frank discussion. Open-minded. Fashion the final result from everybody's best thinking.

- Good listening skills. Can work to understand objections, problems, find harmonious solutions.

- Anticipates idea objections and resolves concerns of community leaders before key decisions are made.

- Able to plant ideas ahead of time so that people can assimilate and react to them before key decisions are to be made. Resolve concerns ahead of time. Make sure major players are on board before pushing for a final decision.

Mobilization and management of human resources.

- Involve as many people as possible. Delegate meaningful responsibility. Put the right people in key positions. Maximize their strengths and work around their weaknesses. Follow through with assignments.

- Give others the limelight and recognition for accomplishments. Express appreciation privately and publicly.

- Do the hard work. Serve so well and so selflessly that you will receive the goodwill and cooperation you need.

- Acknowledge mistakes. Help others to save face.

- Don't waste time. Keep meetings under control and on the agenda. 

- Have training sessions. Bring in outside resources to help in the process. Build up the awareness, knowledge and skills of the group. Get outside training yourself.

- Learn to delegate and let go. Provide enough oversight and reporting so that you show concern and care for the work others do.

Minimize conflict.

- Accept defeat graciously. Learn from your mistakes. Regroup and try again. Or go on to something else.

- Don't personalize conflict or differences. Mend fences. Even if you can't please your opponents, find ways of being respectful and friendly in other settings.

- Be above board and fair. Be consistent with your principles so people will accept your decisions. Give everyone a fair hearing for their ideas.

Take care of yourself.

- Keep personal friendships strong. Have confidential relationships where you can unwind and speak your feelings completely without fear.

- Find time for yourself. Get personal renewal through physical exercise, relaxation, leisure, and contemplation.

- Keep your marriage and family life strong. Integrate your community work into a life that is well balanced. Say no to activities that don’t fit your family and personal priorities.

Rewards.

- Warm friendships and enjoyment that come with doing good things together. Have fun while doing good work.

- You can make a difference. You are needed. You'll see tangible results of your hard work.

- You will be pushed into wider and wider spheres of leadership. You'll grow because you'll have to grow.

- The work will have variety.

- The highest prestige in the community is reserved for those selfless, community-minded people whose energy makes things happen and soft manner calms troubled waters.