Over the course of two years, the City Dock Action Committee produced a 122-page proposal for the upgrading and redesign of Annapolis’ City Dock, including this rendering of the potential design. The proposal was both well-received by many city residents and chided by others.
One of the most impressive attributes of Annapolis and our surrounding region is the tremendous network of motivated and passionate volunteers who provide a wide variety of services to our community. To every one of these heroes, let me say, thank you and bravo. Our citizens live in a better place as a direct result of these efforts. When I was battling cancer in 2003, I resolved that if I were lucky to survive, I would spend considerably more time helping others. Since those dark days, I have now served on 34 different boards and been Chair of nine of these nonprofit organizations. It is heart-warming to work with so many people who are dedicated to making things happen for the better. Sadly, for all the positive work being done, there are often negative pressures orchestrated by people who spend their energy on complaining. My terms describing these two disparate groups are the “Doers” and the “Whiners.” It is discouraging to see whiners trying to stop projects. It seems as if they delight in causing headaches. Is it for sport or the satisfaction of being the town naysayer? It makes me wonder how to ignore the whiners and celebrate the doers.
I was inspired many years ago by media executive, Ted Turner, who told me that serving on a board is important. He said it was always better to have a seat at the table making decisions than being an outsider. I have followed Turner’s advice to this day. Serving on a board is a big responsibility. There is great satisfaction in improving an organization. My standards for board service include several important principles:
1. Listen carefully at meetings. 2. Ask good questions. Do not grandstand or dominate a discussion. Leave time for others. 3. Wait your turn to ask follow-up questions. 4. Committee meetings are the time to bring up problems and contentious issues. 5. Never surprise the leadership with proposals without clearing them first. 6. Understand the protocol of the relationship between board members and the staff. 7. Use your expertise and experience on committees. 8. After a vote there needs to be one voice on the board. No “ad hoc” commentary. 9. Remember: It is no longer “them” it is “us.”
Adding to these standards, I also believe in term limits and making sure that boards represent a cross section of a region’s diverse population. Boards operate best when there is a clear mission statement and all stakeholders agree to the objective. All this sounds good until aggressive agitation develops.
In Annapolis, we have more than our share of naysayers and whiners. I have to smile as the one time Maryland Governor and later Vice President, Spiro Agnew, referred to the whining class as “nattering nabobs of negativism.” Lucky for him, the internet was not around during his time in office. The internet has given everyone a public voice on any topic. The internet is a convenient way to distribute doubt about any project. We are seeing this unfortunate trend at an alarming escalation throughout the world. We are going to an increasing amount of scrutiny about internet companies in the next few years. A few examples exist right here in Annapolis.
For years, the notion of upgrading City Dock has been studied and debated. Several reports have been generally well received but in each case little or no action took place when the whiners attacked. Over the past two years, the City Dock Action Committee has produced a well written plan for City Dock (see What’s Up Annapolis - “City is on the Brink of Fixing City Dock,” November 2019). Approximately 81 Annapolis residents worked on eight different areas within the 122 page proposal. It is well written with many supporting images. There are a handful of small items that need modification and further review, but the overall plan is a masterwork. And yet, the whiners are out there poking holes and denigrating the general plan. These people don’t seem to have a real goal other than trying to kill off a good project. For those trying to make the plan work, the attacks can be frustrating. There are steps that can be taken to turn around the naysayers.
When questions come up, a rapid answer often helps solve problems. Inaccurate information needs to be corrected swiftly. People will respect a timely response. It is important to recognize that everyone has the right to an opinion. It helps to focus on the areas where common agreement comes naturally. Be willing to make adjustments. Compromise sometimes helps calm down some of the negativity. Aggressive deadlines can make the problem worse. Taking the time to ingest input from both solicited and not-solicited sources adds value to a project. This practice will help the manager of a project to understand what people are concerned about. I tend to prefer working with optimistic people who see the glass as half full as opposed to the pessimists who usually see the glass as half empty. I have engaged naysayers and asked about their concerns. It helps to have another advocate alongside to help persuade the reluctant party. I suggest spending more time listening during these sessions than talking. People tend to behave better during small in-person meetings. Taking notes, respecting new ideas, and asking questions gives the feeling of cooperation. And, there are times when the whiners can be helpful by identifying issues that do need to be addressed. I’ve learned that you can turn the naysayers around in small group working sessions.
There are several precepts that I have learned that help me mold opinions. The list starts off with being open and accurate. When explaining your case, be enthusiastic. I find this to be infectious. If you are enthused, the likelihood is that your listeners will become keen as well. It is important to be available and helpful especially when you don’t need to be. Give out clear and concise information about your project. People like printed materials. Feel free to back up your information with digital versions. Try to identify third-party advocates who might endorse your proposal. A routine I have used successfully over the years is to simply say something nice about people. This always seems to come back around in a positive way. It is hard for a whiner to attack when you are being kind.
Available time is always an issue when doing volunteer work. I stay away from engaging with arguments on blogs and internet forums. What counts are the people who are voting to approve a project. This is why serving on a board is so important, because you get to have a direct voice with your vote. Studying how previous boards have handled challenging projects can be helpful when developing your plan. I’ve learned that good public relations at every step of the way improves your chances for success. Posting updated information on a website helps keep people engaged. I suggest labeling reports on the web as, “Draft,” “Work in Progress,” or “Preliminary.” A survey on your website allows people to voice their opinions in an efficient manner and you get to read the consolidated results of the survey. The answers will help you prioritize how you make your pitch.
When I speak at yacht clubs around the country, I find myself frequently asked about how to get a project going. Examples include issues like: acquiring a fleet of racing sailboats, building a swimming pool, renovating an older club house, or buying adjacent property. I inevitably tell the story about the same six guys that I see at every yacht club in the world who are against every project. They seem to be the same naysayers that pop up everywhere. My advice is to go ahead with the project and blast right past the six guys. The story always seems to get a good laugh, and my point is made that there will always be some kind of “no” person. One of the strongest arguments you can make to the people who actually make the final decision is to ask them to think about their own legacy. They should want to be the decision makers who made something happen for the well-being of many people in the future. That pitch always resonates. Success is never automatic, but I have learned that a positive attitude and an open approach will help achieve your goal, while the whiners will just move on to something else. And, in the end the doers can take pride in their achievements.
Editor’s Note:
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