Don't confuse motion with improvement
I wrote recently how action can produce information. But an important corollary to that idea is that action alone does not necessarily mean improvement.
For example, how much time do we spend preparing board materials that the board never looks at, and even if they do look at it, won't take any action on the information provided? (I mean, sure, this probably never happens at your association...)
I recall once as an association staff person many decades ago spending literally weeks preparing a three inch three-ring binder for our board meeting. At the end of the meeting, the board chair, with barely a glance at me, handed me the binder and said "Do something with this."
The reality is that far too often, we're taking action (in motion) but we're not really improving anything.
So think about all the things you do: the data you're collecting, the reports you're running, the marketing you're sending; all of them are motion, but are they really accomplishing something?
Motion alone is not improvement.
![]()
Wes's Wednesday Wisdom Archives
“If I could only do one thing…”
“If I could only do one thing…” Managing data throughout your organization can be overwhelming. Do […]
Gratitude
Gratitude As Thanksgiving in the US approaches, I’m reminded of the importance of gratitude, in […]
“It’s more than I have, but less than I want.”
“It’s more than I have, but less than I want.” “It’s more than I have, […]
Don’t forget Parkinson’s Law
Don’t forget Parkinson’s Law “Work expands so as to fill the time available for its […]
Just Respond
Just Respond Growing up my father used to tell my many siblings and me that […]
People fear uncertainty, not change
People fear uncertainty, not change If you’ve ever worked on any big project that was […]
“Working with you is like going to therapy.”
“Working with you is like going to therapy.” I was working with a client last […]
The best ideas are stolen
The best ideas are stolen I don’t remember where I first heard it, but someone said […]
It’s all about expectations
It’s all about expectations One of the most critical contributors to the success of a […]
Either you test, or your members will
Either you test, or your members will If I was forced to choose the single […]
