Recently, I put out my thoughts on the difference between “to serve” and “in service to”. I shared ideas around the values that drive why an organization exists and loyalty to an organization. I posited that ISPI is about “being better”…be a better professional…be a better world. For our Society to survive and move forward, we must move from “serving” to being “in service” to our members, to organizations, to communities, and to the world. ISPI and the Board of Directors are making that move now.
To support being a better professional, ISPI will accelerate careers. We will be rolling out a new membership structure with new levels of benefits. We have launched a mentoring program through the Emerging Professional Network. We are evolving our professional certification program. Our long-term intent is for ISPI to be known as the professional society you belong to if you want to find a job, improve your skills, hone your competencies, and expand your career development.
Bringing this back to “service”, what I am most excited about is participating in being part of making a better world. To support creating a better world, ISPI will give back. Any organization can offer a buffet of services and products for professional development. And like most buffets, they eventually become stale once you have had your fill. The key is to find ways to continually connect with every person as their career progresses. The organizations that shine and breathe life are those that can connect with humanity and strike at the core of what it means to be human. Simon Sinek’s “golden circle” challenges us to think about “why” an organization exists. “Why” we exist is the same reason for the difference between “to serve” and “in service to”. ISPI serves the world, and we will be in service to the world, too…starting now!
Following the lead and recommendations of many great Board leaders before us, Rose Noxon and I are working with Rhonda to establish ISPI’s pro bono community service program. As a pilot, ISPI is facilitating and funding a performance improvement project with a community-based non-profit in Philadelphia to coincide with this year’s conference. Two veteran performance consultants will lead an ISPI consulting team working with the Settlement Music School, “the largest community school of the arts in the United States…[that] provides 10,000 weekly services of individual lessons, classes and activities in music, dance and visual arts to children and adults without regard to age, race or financial circumstances, and awards nearly $2 million annually in financial aid and scholarships.” Global Goal #4 is Quality Education, so yes, we will be making the world a better place.
While this year is a pilot, we believe the long-term success of this program will have many fundamental and foundational impacts on ISPI.
• First, we are embracing a greater purpose than serving individual career development. Moving beyond talking about the “mega”, we will be modeling and creating opportunities for our members to be “in service to” the world.
• Second, any member at any stage of their career will be able to participate. Emerging professional will have opportunities to be mentored. Those in their mid-career may join a team to start or finish their CPT application. Our veterans will be key to leading our pro bono teams. And last but not least, our retirees can stay connected to the Society and the community by sharing their vast experiences and knowledge. These diverse and multi-disciplinary teams will be ripe for practitioners, academics, and students.
• Third, community service offers exposure for marketing and public relations. We have struggled to communicate and share the value and results of our performance improvement efforts. ISPI-sponsored pro bono work will demonstrate positive impact and bring credit to our ideologies and methods, which are critical to the success of telling our story and inspiring others to join us. We also anticipate developing strategic partnerships with other like-minded organizations that embrace performance improvement as a means to making the world better.
• Finally, service projects are scalable. ISPI chapters can use the model to support local non-profits and community-based programs as well as create partnerships with nearby colleges and universities seeking internships for students. Thinking internationally, this work can be expanded to encompass a larger global community that brings practitioners/academics from world regions to give back and improve the lives of those who may not otherwise be able to obtain performance improvement services.
I am EXCITED! I believe ISPI’s shift from a focus on “serving” to embracing “being in service to” can and will have a broadening and building impact on the revitalization of our Society. We exist to be better…better professionals…better world. If you are so moved, please feel free to contact me with your ideas, your support, or your offer of help. Also, ISPI is seeking organizational sponsors and charitable donations to fund our community service program. This is a wonderful opportunity to give back to our Society and to give back to local communities seeking to be better.
I look forward to hearing from you and continuing this conversation.
(Scott can also be reached at: scottcasad@ispi.org)
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