Founder’s syndrome
We noticed that this is common problem in all Deaf organizations including DHHIG. It happens when young people or new people try to come in and offer out-of-box thinking.. Often they will be rejected. People need to start understanding that NO ORGANIZATION is theirs to own. It belongs to the PEOPLE or the Stakeholders.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Founder’s syndrome is a label normally used to refer to a pattern of negative or undesirable behavior on the part of the founder(s) of an organization. The term is anecdotal/unofficial and does not actually refer to a medical syndrome. It is particularly common where there has only been one person leading the organization or the board of directors since its inception [1] and is common in non-profit and commercial organizations that grow beyond their early stages.[2]
The organization faces founder’s syndrome as the scope of activities widen and number of stakeholders increase. Without an effective decentralized decision making process there will be growing conflict between the newcomers, who want a say in how the organization develops and the founder who continues to dominate the decision making process. This can be very destructive, both to the organization to the individuals concerned and should be dealt with quickly and decisively[1].
There are a number of negative dynamics that can occur when an original CEO stays on beyond the initial growth period of an organization.
- The first is that the CEO’s passion and charisma that initially created the successful organization starts to become a negative rather than a positive force. As the organization moves in to a more mature phase additional, professionally-trained and talented people are engaged and the board is expanded. The founder’s domination of the decision making process can frustrate effective group decision making.[3].
- The organization can, over time, come to be overly identified with the person or personality of the founder and a loss of public trust.
- During the early phases of the organization the board tends to be selected by the founder and are either like-minded individuals or people who can be trusted to ‘rubber stamp’ the founder’s decisions rather than offering a more representative view.[3]
Surviving Founder’s syndrome requires acknowledgment of the problem, a plan of action, and ideally interventions by the founder, the board and also by other people involved in the organization. The objective of the plan should be to allow the organization to make a successful transition to a more mature organizational model without too much damage to either the organization itself or to the individuals concerned.[4]
May 4, 2009 at 4:16 pm |
I found this SAME information!! It’s great that you posted it, I was about to post it myself.
I find it strange that the person that has had complete control of the DHHIG money with no oversight would try and stay on the organization whatever the cost. Myself, if I knew I had been honest and could account for everything, I would not try to run again at all. I would not run for a position again. I would let the winner of the position run their audit knowing that I can account for every penny and every receipt.
Under John’s management:
No formal audits were ever conducted
No internal controls, JohnO manages all financial processes without oversight.
Lack of transparency
No budgets posted
Do we want the same kind of management of OUR organization if he becomes the CHAIR?? I know this: I hate to become personal..but this just needs to be pointed out. .
JohnO is an excellent politician, his picture shows that. In fact, he was first running for treasurer again..but apparently his strategy has changed: JohnO has changed his volunteer position from Treasurer to CHAIR meaning he would have almost absolute control over whether or not an audit could be conducted. Why an soon to be ex-treasurer be so insistent on being on the board after being in absolute control of the money with no oversight?
I was told that an audit would be too expensive, yet money is wasted everyday and if budgets had been posted as they should have been for the members to view, this would have been evident.
May 4, 2009 at 7:35 pm |
I remember a deaf wrestling alliance I started late in 2004 with the intent to evolve this into a bona fide non-profit entity attaining 501 (c) (3) status with the Internal Revenue Service and affiliation with USA Deaf Sports Federation and USA Wrestling, two national governing bodies affiliated with the United States Olympic Committee.
To say the least I put lots of time into this. This effort had designs of a USADSF National Sport Organization probably second to none in status if potential is constantly maximized.
Naturally, I was told by one from the USADSF ad hoc committee for wrestling about negative perceptions on part of a number of persons towards me. All the while there were momentum gaining towards the effort garnering ten thousands dollars in grant money for development.
The amount might appear small to you but to us this represents very significant progress.
Granted, I was insistent the movers and shakers in this meet me halfway in this worthwhile endeavor by maintaining membership in both the USA Deaf Sports Federation and USA Wrestling before they can be considered for significant roles in this movement.
What good are we if we don’t meet USADSF and USAW halfway without holding membership with entities we seek help from? The last I wanted to see is losing potential for funding from the global mainstream.
Few of us were was relentlessly firm about this because strict procedures had to be done in order for long-term sustainability. Even membership in USADSF and USAW is required just to be eligible to view a 50-page draft of bylaws and supporting documents for the alliance as was in the process of becoming USA Deaf Wrestling. I went all out in keeping all so honest.
Lots were all talk and no action. Lots were into this just to get to the Deaflympics and have no regard for the full four-year cycle concept. As a result this kind of endeavor sadly went nowhere. As is the usual with deaf wrestling history repeated itself as been the case since completion of the 1993 Summer World Games of the Deaf.
Within deaf sports its quite numbing thinking about the tragedy many folks doesn’t understand real-world expectations involved towards building and sustaining entities.
Typically, in the end, I left the heavily splintered deaf wrestling community to their own devices. I moved onto the global mainstream and they made good use of my abilities.
This is just a sliver as to why the deaf sports community isn’t the same as it was in the heyday. I don’t buy into the “glossy” appearance of public relations such as Websites and names being thrown around. I realize many are just in for the trip to the Deaflympics and they get into a coma afterwards until the next Deaflympics. What a crock.
I realize turnover is extremely high with the USADSF. There’s many who came and went quickly. Numbers don’t lie. What I really care here is how much potential is really utilized.
By the way if you’re interested to know, the U.S. deaf community has two or three deaf basketball organizations vying for our time and money. I wonder what Art Kruger in his heaven is wondering about this. This is a very sad reflection of the goings on nowadays.
May 5, 2009 at 3:38 am |
I don’t know much. I never worked for the government. It’s a possibility that the more DHHIG members are involved with mainstream government employee organizations the more these mainstream governmentemployee organizations might help DHHIG in return. Who knows?