Rogue Chapters!
This week in ASAE’s Collaborate Component Relations community, the topic of Rogue Chapters was discussed. Being a company that is familiar with the concept of “rogueness,” I’d like to offer my take on this situation.
First of all, the concept of “rogue” has changed over the years. Originally, a rogue was a bad person who did bad things. Their actions broke rules or did a lot of damage – think highwaymen or outlaws. However, “going rogue” also means (according to Merriam-Webster Dictionary) in the modern sense of the word “to begin to behave in an independent or uncontrolled way that is not authorized, normal, or expected.”
Now, behaving in unexpected ways is not always a bad thing because sometimes going rogue can solve a problem, diffuse a serious situation, or present an imaginative alternative. Acting independently might be “going rogue” because it is outside of the norms that have been set.
A perfect example is my company name, Rogue Tulips, which came from finding tulips growing in the front lawn rather than in the garden bed where they originated. In this sense, the tulips were rogue for doing the unexpected and blooming outside the box. (Yes, it is a nice tie-in to our tagline.)
When it comes to chapters going rogue, we need to address our own control issues. That’s right: many times, we are exasperated with our chapters because we feel back at national that we are losing control of the situation. Therefore, the chapters must be doing something wrong because they aren’t doing what we tell them, and they are not behaving in an expected and acceptable way.
Once we address our own control issues and remember that we are seeking collaboration and partnership rather than control, it helps us evaluate what is happening and how to improve the situation. There are times that chapters do something that seems “rogueish” when they just don’t know any better. For example, logo abuse seems to be a frequent issue among chapters. They use it incorrectly, take it apart and add things to it, or just ignore it and create their own.
Issues like that can be addressed through information and education; usually an honest and open discussion that begins with a question – “Why did you put the Gateway arch in the middle of the logo?” – leads to clarity and supports building relationships. Often you will find that no harm was intended; it was just misdirected enthusiasm.
On the other hand, we need to seriously address the issue of INTENT. Yes, there are chapter leaders who intentionally act out and cause disruption within the organization. This can be driven by a variety of reasons, but they all come back to the individual’s issues. Individuals who instigate and aggravate tense situations act this way because (1) they are angry that they have been overlooked by the organization; (2) they are angry about a new guideline; (3) they are angry that you aren’t taking their chapter seriously enough.
In my long experience working with chapters, bad behavior happens when people are angry. It could be gradations of anger (insulted, annoyed, frustrated) but it still comes back to someone is upset about something and you need to figure out what it is.
If you have ever had a chapter threaten to leave the organization (“we don’t need you – we can do what we do alone”) that is usually a cry for attention. Which means you have been ignoring this particular chapter or they FEEL you have been ignoring them. Find out what is really bothering them; did they think they should have won a chapter award? Did you overlook them as a case study in the newsletter about high-performing chapters? Did they suggest an idea that you didn’t pursue?
Don’t assume one loud angry voice in your chapter speaks for everyone so talk to more than one person about the situation and what is driving it. While you may think from a distance that your chapters are laughing at you, saying “nyah nyah nyah MAKE ME,” or reveling in their disobedience, what they are really trying to do is get your attention.
Whatever the reason for your chapters’ rogueish behavior, I found over the years that people don’t get angry or upset unless they care. Start from that place of inquiry, using beginner’s mind, and you will find an opportunity to build even stronger relationships with your chapters.
