THE GROWTH INSTINCT Adapted for Rotary Clubs by Dr. Jimmie D. Brewer 1 The “DNA” of Growth Clubs

The DNA Markers  Why do some clubs consistently grow and others do not?  Are there “systemic” differences?  Are there “growth genes” in the DNA of growth clubs?  I believe there are two DNA markers in growth clubs:  Marker #1 – The New Growth Cycle “Gene”  Marker #2 – The Expandable Capacity “Gene” 2

PART 1 THE NEW GROWTH CYCLE “GENE” 3

Every Living Thing, System, & Organization has a Natural Life Cycle. 4

BIRTHDEATH The Life Cycle 5

Three Phases of the Life Cycle  Growth Cycle  Plateau Cycle  Decline Cycle 6

Potential The Growth Cycle Begins at “Birth” Purpose and Vision Constant Care & Protection BIRTH GROWTH BEGINS 7

Early Growth Period BIRTH GROWTH SPEEDS UP Lots of Celebration Progress Energy and Excitement 8

Mature Growth Period BIRTH GROWTH SLOWS POSITIVE Vitality Health Strength 9

The Plateau Cycle – Stable Years BIRTH STABILITY – GROWTH STOPS Accomplishment Predictability Fulfillment 10

Identifying Clubs WITHOUT the New Growth “Gene”  Have an autoimmune disorder.  The immune system mistakenly can attack healthy cells and tissues—and fails to shut off an attack (pathogens).  What are the pathogens?  Plateau Virus  Decline Virus 11

Plateaus Virus - Believe They Can Stay in Plateau Cycle Forever STABILITY – NO GROWTH Living Happily Ever After - Only in Fairy Tales! 12

Plateaued clubs tend to — Hold on to the past successes Become resistant to change Believe they can stay level forever Lose the drive to grow Embrace that they are just the right size 13 Fall Into the Plateau Trap

We Have Reached Our “Right Size” No More Chairs – Just Us 14

It is the nature of non-growth clubs to deny the decline as long as possible, to underestimate the decline, and then to under respond. Declining clubs tend to — Ignore the club “cold” Treat club “pneumonia” with aspirin Embalm with penicillin 15 Decline Virus - Ignore or Minimize the Decline

Ignore the Signs Fear Denial Paranoia Conflict Anxiety 16

NEGATIVE GROWTH “Prepare” for Death DEATH Life-Threatening Decline Serious Decline THREE STAGES Early Decline 17

Clubs WITH a New Growth Cycle “Gene” Respond when Plateaued: Seek input from members Leadership addresses issues INTROSPECTION - Open and Honest “Ignite” a new growth cycle 18

Clubs with New Growth Cycle “Gene” Take Action IF Decline Begins: Early – Greater decline = Greater Challenge Accurately – Do not make excuses INTERVENE Aggressively – Decline = first stage of death 19 “Ignite” a new growth cycle

New Growth Cycle “Gene” Ignited NEW GROWTH CYCLE Lots of Celebration Progress Energy and Excitement 20 IT IS THEIR INSTINCT TO GROW THEY HAVE AN “IMMUNITY” AGAINST PLATEAU AND DECLINE VIRUSES

PART 2 EXPANDABLE CAPACITY “GENE” 21

The Concept of “Social Space”  SOCIAL SPACE AND HUMANS People have social space capacity Often social space is referred to as “emotional room” This is not what is known as “physical space” Social or emotional space capacity – defines the size of our network  SOCIAL SPACE AND ORGANIZATIONS Organizations have the same dynamic A natural “disposition (programming) for social space Growth clubs have a greater capacity for social space 22

Clubs with an Expandable Capacity “Gene”  Grow from a sense of purpose  Organized in small parts to make space for all  Group heads trained to integrate new members  Club embraces diversity – in a wide range  Stable board and trained leadership  Playbooks for active committees  Club president - an administrator and motivator  Growth by expanding smaller units  Unlimited growth by expanding social space 23

The Expandable Capacity Express 24

Identifying Clubs WITHOUT the Expandable Capacity “Gene”  Again - have an autoimmune disorder.  The immune system mistakenly can attack healthy cells and tissues—and fails to shut off an attack (pathogens).  What are the pathogens?  Clan Virus  Giant Amoeba Virus 25

THE CLAN VIRUS  Often seen more in smaller clubs (under 30)  But “pockets” can exist in any size club  Careful who they “let in” their group  Often sit together at “their” table  Often influenced by “matriarchs/patriarchs”  More conservative and “inward” focus  Sometimes engaged in “friendly fire”  This limits the club’s social space capacity 26

NO ROOM LEFT – IN THE VAN 27

THE GIANT AMOEBA VIRUS  Often seen in larger clubs – up to 70  But this virus can infect any club size  One big cell that promotes life like a “village”  President like a village chief  Big enough for action – but too big to operate like a “committee of the whole”  Lack of intentional organization – often leaves new member uninvolved – except all club events  This limits the club’s social space capacity 28

NO ROOM LEFT – ON THE BUS 29

PART 3 PERSPECTIVES FOR SYSTEMIC CHANGE 30

CHANGING THE “DNA” OF A CLUB  Unlike people, clubs can change their DNA  Must be intentional and proactive  Must realize that it is not about a new tactic  Must understand that to alter a DNA – change must occur at a systemic level  Must develop new perspectives – which can create a new DNA: NEW GROWTH CYCLE GENE EXPANDABLE CAPACITY GENE 31

The New Growth Cycle “Gene” NEW GROWTH CYCLE Lots of Celebration Progress Energy and Excitement 32

Perspectives for Creating a New Growth “Gene” 1.Growth is the normal state of a healthy club. 2.A plateau is a time to regroup for a new growth cycle. 3.A plateau lasting for more than 3 years is the first stage of decline. 4.Decline is first stage of death. 5.A plateau lasting longer than 3 years – or a decline is addressed aggressively. 6.Mindset – If our club is not growing – it is dying. 33

The Expandable Capacity “Gene” 34

Perspectives for Creating an Expandable Capacity “Gene” It is our civic duty and mission as a Rotary Club to grow – therefore we are passionately committed to: 1.Finding and adding new members 2.Making “space” for all members 3.Creating opportunities for all members 4.Engaging and involving all members 5.Respecting the contributions of all members 35

PART 4 BRINGING THE NEW “DNA” INTO REALITY 36

How To Penetrate a Club with a New “DNA” 37 Everett Rogers, “Diffusion of Innovations”

Doing the Math – Club Size of 40  Innovators/Early Adopters (16%) or 6 people who totally “buy in”  Next – this group “penetrates” the Early Majority (34%) or 14 more people with new perspectives  Now ½ of the club is on on-board – tipping point or critical mass  Next – ½ of the club penetrates the Late Majority (34%) or 14 more  Now the club has 85% of members on-board 38

Do Not Get Side Tracked – Stay with the Diffusion Principle  Do not try to sell the whole club at the start  Forget the nonsense of “each Rotarian bring in a new member” until you have reached a tipping point or critical mass  Do not waste time on Laggards  Stick to your message and plan 39

Why Do Some Ideas/Plans Penetrate and Others Fail?  In his book, “Start with Why,” Simon Sinek states that we spend too much time on “how” and “what” – but only the core WHY can penetrate into and beyond the Early Majority  Why did Apple and Martin Luther King succeed?  Because people bought into what they believed – their “WHY” – a passion. 40

The Right “Why” for a Rotary Club  When launched from new DNA: Can cure the “plateau” and “decline” viruses Can cure the “clan” &“giant amoeba” viruses Can ignite a club into a new grow cycle Can enable a club to crossing the tipping point 41

So – What Do You Believe? Your Passion – Your WHY? Our purpose is to make room for our colleagues and friends 42

THE GROWTH INSTINCT 43 This presentation can be downloaded at: JDBrewerConsulting.com (Resource Page)

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