To Succeed, Get Involved!

- by Mike Rosenblum

See if you can identify with these scenarios:

• I don’t want to get involved in Society business. I’m comfortable where I am. My job pays fairly well. And frankly, I just don’t have the time to get involved.

• When I first joined the society, I thought it would open new roads for my professional development. But since that time not much has happened to me. I somehow feel unfulfilled.

• I just got laid off and I need to network fast. I also need to learn the latest tools. But I don’t know how or where to get started.

If this is you, then you need to take action. With today’s corporate downsizing and restructuring, information developers of all types must network and learn new tools quickly. We also need each other’s knowledge and support.

An easy way to achieve these goals is to get involved in the Chapter. And you might say to yourself “Great, I’ll do it… but how?” Well it’s easier than you might think. Here are three simple steps to help you get the most from our Chapter and how our Chapter can get the most from you.

1. Avoid inaction by defining your goals. Write down what you want to accomplish and how you plan to make it happen.
   
   
2. Match your goals to the Chapter’s needs. At the next meeting, ask your society’s officers what they need help on and what positions are open; then get involved based on what interests you. For example:
   
   
   • Do you want the opportunity to learn how to design Web pages? Then you might want to help us develop and maintain our Web site.
     
     
   • Do you want to start your own business? Then become better known in the Technical Writing community by participating in Society affairs.
     
     
   • Do you want to practice your leadership skills? Then become an officer in the Society. Maybe you never thought of yourself as being an officer of this chapter, but if the opportunity presents itself, keep an open mind and seriously consider it. Sometimes people recognize your potential long before you do. Wipe away your immediate doubts, “I could never do that,” and consider that, just maybe, you can.
     
     By matching your interests to our needs, the results obtained will help us all.
     
     
3. Invest the time. But know your limits. The fun of being involved can quickly evaporate if you have a long “to do” list and not enough you to do it. The role you take doesn’t have to be big, just one that that helps you take that first step. Realize that your small effort can yield big results. Also, there is nothing wrong with politely declining requests for you time. In fact, there are many times when you should say no. After all, if you don’t have the time or interest, the end result of your involvement probably won’t benefit you of the Chapter.

Bottom line: To help both yourself and our Chapter thrive and grow, get involved!