Christopher V. Flett

Political correctness is DEAD. Do you hear me? It is DEAD! Let me speak from the hip here: The economy is in the shit for most people. Jobs are getting lost, fear is through all markets, and a few champions of business are holding up a candle bringing light to what is dark. I spent a great deal of my career working with Chambers of Commerce, Business Improvement Areas, and other groups that are normally managed by women. Time and time again, I’ve come to these groups with solutions to obvious problems their members are facing and rarely, and I mean rarely, do these groups understand what is being offered.

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Case in point: BC BIAs.

Having a history with Business Improvement Areas in the North American market, the Ghost CEO launched a program where we would do a “Business Development Partnership”. One of our coaches would offer a complimentary seminar on any topic the group wanted. We would then offer a complimentary coaching session for some of the BIA’s members to help them in their business. As well, we would offer other support like a newsletter tip each month, preferred rates on other seminars we do in the community, and preferred rates on business coaching should any of their members want ongoing support. Let me add that professional development and business support is something that these groups are mandated to do. They get a budget each year to do things that support their members. The program we are offering costs the BIA nothing! It’s a feather to put in their hats.

So I talked with three managers that I know very well and that ‘get it’. Upon presenting it to their boards, the common theme was, “we don’t need it.” “We don’t need to manage another program.” “Our members won’t be interested.”  These board would rather watch their members fail then to offer them something they can use if and when they like. Un-fucking-believable. What kills me is the managers absolutely get it, but their idiot boards, meeting once a month, decide in five minutes what is good for their 500+ members.

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Case in Point: Tourism Groups

One of the companies I’m involved in has been hired by a provincial body to do some training for their tourism representatives. Due to the sheer geographical area of the province, an email was sent out requesting some quick information on top accommodations providers, restaurants, and activities in each area. We were looking for between 5-10 in each area. This information would be used in an upcoming training session to further educate the reps on different parts of the province. The smaller towns and forward thinking communities sent back their information almost right away. The larger areas sent emails suggesting that we go to their websites and document their areas ourselves. Are you shitting me? Your job is to promote your area and when someone is suggesting they will help, you turn it to them to do all the work for you?

One lady had the gull to say, “I couldn’t possibly choose only 10 in each area. It is not politically correct to do so. Plus I’m much too busy to do that right now.”  Mark my words, this will be the same slug who in the future will bitch at the provincial body that they aren’t getting enough support. I have to hold myself back and not bring back the old Alpha Male and consider what the media would do with a story like this. What would the membership of the areas too busy to share 10 minutes of work with us feel like knowing the group they are paying into are pissing on opportunities to promote them?

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Case in Point: National Women’s Group in the US.

I have spoken to over 300 women’s groups in the United States. The larger they are, the more likely they are to be run poorly. Some of the best run groups in all of the US can be found in Detroit, Toledo, Portland (OR), Austin, and other centers. Recently one of our coaches met with a national organization who admitted they needed to do something to show value to their membership during these times. Members were dropping like flies, new chapters weren’t being formed, and in fact chapters were close to closing. Our coach suggested something similar to the “Professional Development Partnership” as well as adding group coaching and tele-seminar pieces. Her contact was thrilled and assured us that this was something that the board would be very interested in. I should mention that were had offered to ‘profit-share’ the revenues so they could fund other activities. Oh, and I suggested a non-exclusive relationship so that each of their 80 chapters could engage with local coaches if the fit was better.

Fast forward two weeks and we get a letter from this same contact saying that upon reviewing our information, they have decided to put the work out to RFP, but are happy to take $7,500.00 from us to allow us to talk at their conference about our program. Not only do they not want to pay paid speakers to deliver a talk, but they now want us to pay an appearance fee. Are you shitting me? We could have delivered major value to their chapters and members as well as a lot of new members. Now I am making it my mission to let all contacts know how poorly supported and lacking in vision their association is. This is called the “Deep Six” my friends.

Women can be so preoccupied with how things might be seen, that they never do anything for fear of it upsetting someone. The “Henning” mindset that I refer to in the book, is one of the largest cancers in all of business. Do not take on a position of power if you aren’t prepared to do what is right, rather than what will draw the least amount of criticism. The glass ceiling in business is your fear of doing the RIGHT THING and getting criticised.

Are all groups like this? No. There are some groups that absolutely get it and do things for that value their membership, regardless of any sideways comments they might get. Off the top of my head: Squamish and Whistler Chambers, Women in Computing – Seattle, anything that Audrey Godwin is involved with in Seattle, most CREW chapters in the United States, every Women In Communications groups I’ve talked to, and others I know I’m forgetting, but not for any other reason that a lack of caffeine this morning. Last week the Chamber in Squamish put on an excellent event that I spoke at. It was well put together, I was treated very well, and every single one of their members sang their praises. It reminds me that even though all chambers may fall under the same category, they are not all the same.